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WALKING THE LINE
Private Notes
Private Notes
Notes
Walking The Line
OR:
Drawing Calligraphy in the Sand
Age 22, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, 1967
-- This is one poem, in an autobiographical series of poems, I posted here at WriteSpike. Go to my stories section for others. They are in chronological order. --
My calligraphy was based on the late works of the painter, Paul Klee.
The drawing (above) for this poem is one of my pen drawings made at this time.
A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.
~ Paul Klee ~
I had learned not to care
about what others thought
-- not even what I thought myself --
when the pen in my hand meandered
across pieces of paper
drawing line after line
within months
a kind of alphabet
or hieroglyphics
evolved --
yet it was more drawing than writing
and interlocking,
each 'letter' part of the next
This painting is by Paul Klee.
by that time
the characters had become automatic
like speaking in tongues
like a language that my heart knew
but my brain could not decipher
buying reams of blank paper
I often stopped after only a stroke or two
while other sheets were more complex
"What do these mean?"
a friend asked
"I don't know," I said
then on a weekend
at the beach
the shore empty late at night,
I drew in the canvas of the sand
like a calligraphy brush
that could draw thick or thin
I straightened my fingers
to plow wide grooves
and then turned my palm sideways
to carve sharp and narrow -
after minutes I used my feet as well
the work went
for ten yards
etched around seashells
outlining driftwood
and across the side of a dune
when the tide came in
it erased most of my script
but left an edge
above the high water mark
later on Sunday
a breeze blew
and my writing merged with
the wind ripples in the sand
Comments
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A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.
I love this quote! What a beautiful way to describe drawing. Thanks for sharing! -
My calligraphy was based on the late works of the painter, Paul Klee. The drawing (above) for this poem is one of my pen drawings made at this time.A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.
I have always been fascinated by calligraphy. I was so happy when I had a graphic design class based on it. I love the perspective behind what you quoted about drawing (and how it's connected to calligraphy).-
When I did this, I did not know about 'land art' or 'earth art' which had just started in that same year. With earth art the art is made out of the natural elements of the landscape -- so it combined two things, calligraphy and sculpting the earth.
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The painting by Paul Klee is amazing! I love how it actually has characters, but made out of calligraphy.
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Klee has quite a few paintings that are in between figures and signs and they merge together.
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I had learned not to care about what others thought -- not even what I thought myself -- when the pen in my hand meandered across pieces of paper drawing line after linewithin months a kind of alphabet or hieroglyphics evolved -- yet it was more drawing than writing and interlocking, each 'letter' part of the next
I can't continue to say how amazing this poem is, and the story you've told, and how calligraphy, drawing, and life all intertwined with each other. There is so much Gold in this poem. This is a true gem. Thanks for sharing Rick.-
David: The line becomes like a needle that registers and records your energy or state of mind or emotions at that point -- it can be a direct connection between you, the artist, and the art that is created.
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I had learned not to care about what others thought -- not even what I thought myself -- when the pen in my hand meandered across pieces of paper drawing line after line
The best art is created when we stop thinking about the audience and let our creative selves free from the shackles of judgment. Great piece!-
Miranda: I realized later that it was an exercise in allowing my instincts to take over, and to avoid thought.
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Another well captured moment. "What does it mean?" "I don't know" and it is irrelevant enough to let it be washed away by the tide. The magic is in the creating isn't it, not the outcome?
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Kiersten: YES, a dedication to creation is the key. Then let the chips fall where they may.
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Paul Klee was very good at putting into words what artists do -- he has a number of quotable phrases like that.