Tuesday, July 20, 2010

THE DOOR: A POEM BY MARGARET ATWOOD

Inside the Birdhouse by Kathryn Campbell Dodd. Kathryn's website here.


The door swings open,
you look in.
It’s dark in there,
most likely spiders:
nothing you want.
You feel scared.
The door swings closed.


Le Strade Di Firenze. Mixed media collage and acrylics on wooden door panels by Naomi Rachel Muirhead. Website here.

The full moon shines,
it’s full of delicious juice;
you buy a purse,

the dance is nice.
The door opens
And swings closed so quickly
you don’t notice.




Assemblage by Robert Rauschenberg


The sun comes out,
you have swift breakfasts
with your husband, who is still thin;
you wash the dishes,
you love your children,
you read a book,
you go to the movies.
It rains moderately.



Green Door by Giancarlo Venturini. Website here


The door swings open,
you look in:
why does this keep happening now?
Is there a secret?
The door swings closed.



History Repeated. Mixed media, encaustic wax and recycled materials by Michele Ledoux. Website here.

The snow falls,
you clear the walk while breathing heavily;
it’s not as easy as once.
Your children telephone sometimes.
The roof needs fixing.
You keep yourself busy.
The spring arrives.

Wellfleet Abstract 3 by Michele Ledoux. Website here.

The door swings open:
it’s dark in there,
with many steps going down.
But what is that shining?
Is it water?

The door swings closed.


Behind Closed Doors by Jane Simpson. See here.


The dog has died.
This happened before.
You got another; not this time though.

Where is your husband?
You gave up the garden.
It became too much.
At night there are blankets;
nonetheless you are wakeful.

Toria by Clay Ketter. See more here.

The door swings open:

O god of hinges,
god of long voyages,
you have kept faith.
It’s dark in there.
You confide yourself to the darkness
You step in.
The door swings closed. - Margaret Atwood



Door by Susan Lenz. Blog here. Many amazing things to see!





Street art on doors. See more fantastic street art here.

56 comments:

  1. Absolutely fabulous post. I love Margaret Atwood, and these door images are gorgeous. Your blog is great.

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  2. This is wonderful! The melding of beautiful words and images is quite exquisite. Thank you!

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  3. That was a very interesting poem. Is the door just a passage way in a journey? Thank you for sharing this poem.

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  4. You are such a generous blogger! Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful photos plus Margaret Atwood! What a lovely time I've spent here this morning!

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  5. Doors: gateways - entering and leaving... thoughtful after reading the poem. Great imagery as always!

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  6. A very strong poem, supported by so many different visions about doors... Thank you for this lovely post and the links! Every door keeps a secret! I like to look through doors and gates of old houses or just to imagine what's hidden behind them. I make some photos from time to time...

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  7. Wow. It just gets better and better in your class Professor Robyn.

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  8. I adore poetry as a lead into thinking visually... creating works... wonderful Robyn... thank you
    Sophie

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  9. I found this post very exciting. I feel quite charged after seeing all of this door artwork. I've been on a quest for teeny keys lately. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I've in search of a teeny door. I'm off to explore and go through each door here.

    Thank your for your collection of door art.

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  10. I agree with Judy. This is a great poem and I especially like that last door.

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  11. lovely poem robyn, lots of perspective.
    i like the last image of the door too.

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  12. I really enjoyed the combination of the visual and the written. Thanks for sharing it.

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  13. I like the doors but find the poem a bit close to home at the moment.
    Sent shivvers up my spine.

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  14. I think my life is at the fifth stanza stage.

    I appreciate all the links you provide, which expand my blogging and my horizons. Thank you.

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  15. such a powerful poem..(reminds of me of The Layers by Stanley Kunitz)
    life is fleeting at best..
    love the imagery you've chosen to accompany. I'm setting out to explore now...

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  16. What a good idea for a post Robyn! I hadn't read that poem before and thank you for providing all those doors and their keys for further exploration!

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  17. There is a lot to think about in that poem. It was the perfect companion to the artwork.

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  18. Thanks Judy.

    Cynthia, glad you enjoyed it.

    Annell, the door is a metaphore for many things and in this poem it's about the opening and closing of the different stages in our lives. It's a good poem but it certainly makes me feel uneasy.

    Marie, sharing my finds is just as much fun for me as it is for you to discover new artists on my blog.

    Valerianna, this poem does make one think .... maybe not the most cheerful trend of thoughts!

    Rossichka, yes a door can hold a lot of mystery. Hope to see some of your door photos soon.

    Leslie, I'm glad you are paying attention :-)

    Sophie, thank YOU.

    Kim, I love collecting old keys too. It's interesting to see all the interesting shapes, especially in the very old keys.

    Lisa at Greenbow, at first you don't see the hands in the last door photograph. It's great isn't it? I loved the other photos in that link.

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  19. Megha, follow the link under the last door to see a whole hillside of street art, It's quite amazing.

    Dandelionlady, my pleasure. I enjoyed doing the post.

    Penny, it is a rather chilling poem isn't it? When I first read it I enjoyed it but then started thinking about it and felt quite uncomfortable about the last few verses.

    The Crow, glad you enjoyed the links.

    Lisa, I don't think I know The Layers but will google it.

    Caroline, there are some great doors aren't there? I love the first one.

    Stevie, hmmmm and some things I don't want to think about.

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  20. I used to be a great fan of Robert Rauschenberg.
    A lot of his work can be seen as "Neo Dadaisme".
    A great assemblage artist!

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  21. She needs a flashlight!
    Lovely.

    Thanda

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  22. Hi!
    Thank you so very, very much for sharing a detail of one of my doors on such a lovely, thought-provoking post. I must admit that I'd never before read this poem but fell in love, line by line. Doors, keys, clock parts, nails, and vintage textiles figure heavily in my work as symbols for my fascination with time. Your post, the artwork pictured, and the poem make a powerful statement. Thank you!
    Susan

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  23. I love Margaret Atwood. One of my favorite authors!
    xo
    Karine

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  24. Excellent post, Robyn! You are such a collector and so generous in your sharing of your finds. Love the doors, the openings and closings in words and options. I will go and open some doors. More discoveries await. Thrilling!

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  25. Wim, I've been re-discovering Rauschenberg's work and finding a few wonderful pieces I havn't seen before.

    Mansuetude, a flashlight should do the trick :-)

    Susan, glad you enjoyed the post. The poem has given me a lot of food for thought since I first read it.

    Karine, for that reason I'm glad I included the poem :-)

    Maggie, the hillside of street art should please your eyes in the last link. Happy discoveries.

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  26. Atwood is one of my utterly fave authors and a favourite poem of mine by her is one called Secrecy. I had't read this one until now and I love it too. The fact that you've illustrated it with your finds makes it all the more enthralling. Each and every door is beautiful. Thanks for yet another thought provoking post Robyn.

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  27. Gosh you're good! Wonderful combining of these words with images. Easily doors and windows are our soul symbols. I will take the time to visit these artists!!

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  28. I adore Atwood's poetry....as well as these wonderful doors!

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  29. powerful perfection - of words combined with imagery. really well done robyn.
    oh those doors...

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  30. How wonderful! I've read Atwood's novels but never her poems. Thanks for sharing!

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  31. Another fantastic post....I shall have to return several times to study all the artists you mentioned...and the poem by Atwood is a favorite...

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  32. Thank You for sharing these beautiful creations! and Attwood's poem...I simply love her...
    I appreciate your visiting my blog and encouraging comments!! cheers steph!

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  33. Good gracious I am blown away by your recent posts! Palpitating, you said? I'm about to be admitted! I particularly love Michele Ledoux, Naomi Muirhead & John Whalley. I have about 1% of what they have but how wonderful to be part of that world!

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  34. I adore Margaret Atwood! I am also a door lover and have used many of them in my paintings. The images you've chosen for this post are wonderful.

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  35. Doors, doors, doors... just what I love..

    and Margaret Atwood.. what a mind!!

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  36. HMMMM, May a have the wisdom to know which doors to open .Which to not and may I always be blessed by seeing the doors . Thanks for the post .

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  37. Priya, glad you enjoyed the post. I googled Secrecy and enjoyed it. Thanks for mentioning it.

    Sarala :-)

    Mary Ann, enjoy the links.

    Willow, I had a feeling you would be a fan of Atwood.

    Karin, oh the doors indeed!

    Heather, my pleasure.

    Cynthia, so many links can be overwhelming but I choose the ones that really appeal to me otherwise I'd never get off my computer.

    Steph, I am still thinking about your gray lotus painting.

    Emma, you've mentioned some wonderful artists. What did we ever do without the internet?

    Manon, yes I am now remembering the doors in your paintings.

    Gwen, I agree of course :-)

    Julie, exactly! :-)

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  38. I adore pictures of doors - they always speak to me of so many wonderful stories! What a great find to stumble across your blog today!

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  39. I just spent some very enjoyable time going to all your links and such richness and beauty to be found-- opening new doors.

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  40. The doors are great. And the poem takes my breath away. The combination = sublime.

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  41. that poem is a tad close to the bone for me
    but beautifully written, i'll agree

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  42. Love me some Margaret Atwood, and I love this poem. So many thoughts leap across the idea of time and doorways...always daunting and sometimes bleak.
    thank you for such a strong post.

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  43. I had no idea that Margaret Atwood wrote poetry as well as prose. This is such a powerful one and speaks to the time of life I'm entering--oh my goodness, she hits the proverbial nail on the head. Looking over the comments I loved the fact that you've taken the metaphor of doors opening and closing and and hidden the links within the metaphor. Beautiful.

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  44. I understand Indi@'s comment,
    and never knew Margaret Atwood wrote poetry, but she does as she does her books - matter of factly with a kind of, "this is how it is" feel.

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  45. All of those wonderful doors...so many stories. Real, imagined?

    Jacky xox

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  46. hi Robyn! you had me with Margaret Atwood, but the doors sealed the deal! I am in serious LOVE! will have to come back and click on every linky! xx's

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  47. What an amazing poem Robyn. Strange and sad and beautiful. Fabulous images and lots of lovely links. I don't know where to start...haha.

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  48. Great post! I have always been intrigued by doors, taking photos of them, and collecting various old hinges, and door knobs. I will be exploring your links!!

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  49. Wonderful, how you put the words and images together. Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite writers, but I had not read this poem. The symbolism involved with images of doors is so rich and deep. I suddenly feel the need to see my therapist... :~)

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  50. Hello again. As a Canadian, I have always found Margaret Atwood to speak with a particular, recognizable, evocative voice. I remember reading this poem when I bought the book and being galvanized and enthralled by the inevitability of it. Thanks for reminding me of it. I have just pulled the book off my shelves and will have another read of it!

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  51. Wow, Robyn...just doing some catching up on your posts. I'm without words on this one...so great.

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  52. Gorgeous imagery as usual. It's always such a great fun catching up with you. These doors are divine!
    Thanks for all the links, Robyn!
    I haven't had time to browse yet but I will try to do that soon.
    Enjoy your day!
    Gaby

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  53. on the journey
    we change the path
    to suit our beliefs
    illusions of permanency

    yet our curiosity
    tricks us to look
    at that which we already
    knew- the dark door

    for now we walk
    on dappled sunlit roads
    delusion is practical


    than ks for post as always timely and thought provoking.. Joan T
    awildplaryatience

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  54. I had to come back and read this again, with tears. O god of hinges,

    god of long voyages...so resonate.

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  55. The older I get the more unsettled thinking about this poem.

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