“Birdsong” (Poem and Art)

Plus Welsh lovespoons in the folklore section

Hello!

I hope this message finds you enjoying the month of July so far! We’ve had some warm, sunny days here in SoCal, and it definitely feels like summer now. :)

Behind the Scenes: Mission Viejo Poetry + Art Collaborative

In my April newsletter I mentioned that I had submitted a poem to the Mission Viejo Poetry + Art Collaborative. Good news! It was accepted into the project and assigned to an artist, who then created a piece of visual art inspired by my poem.

In late June, I attended a reception at the Mission Viejo Library to see the exhibit showcasing the poetry and art. I met Rachel Skinner, the artist who created the art in response to my submitted poem. I love how she captured both the intimacy and comfort of the birds shrouded in the tree, as well as the danger lurking above them. I received permission from both the artist and the Poetry + Art Collaborative to include the art and my poem in my newsletter and on my website. So without further ado, here it is:

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Birdsong by Rachel Skinner (digital). Originally displayed at the Mission Viejo Library as part of the Mission Viejo Poetry + Art Collaborative (2023).

Birdsong

Steph Rae Moran

From the Mission Viejo Poetry + Art Collaborative (2023)

I pass an oak tree on my walk,
its rounded crown dense 
with the calls of spring birds.
Slowing, I peer through green leaves
to find several dozen 
Pacific-slope flycatchers settled
on the inner branches, 
small with yellow underbellies.
They remind me 
of the birds of Rhiannon,
and I wonder if their melody
will charm me as time 
slips by unnoticed.
It might prove restful 
to spend months, years even, 
captivated by birdsong 
without the weight of worry and sorrow.

Shaking my head to dispel these thoughts,
I look up to see the real danger: 
a red-tailed hawk 
floating,
waiting for the right moment
to pluck a bird (or maybe two)
from their perch. 
As I step closer to the tree,
an act of protection,
the flycatchers take wing— 
two, three, six at a time,
and spread out into the grassy field behind me.
Their music fades, leaving only the sound 
of rustling leaves in a delicate breeze.

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I believe the exhibit will be on display at the Mission Viejo Library through late August, so be sure to check it out if you live nearby and have the chance. Several members of the writing group I belong to participated in the collaborative as well, so you can also see the poetry and/or art of: Cassandra Rendon, Lorraine Gow, and Diana Huang. Thank you to all of the members of our writing group (and my daughter!) who came out to support us. And thank you to the Poetry + Art Collaborative organizers!

Photograph of Birdsong by Rachel Skinner (digital) and “Birdsong” by Steph Rae Moran (poem) as originally displayed at the Mission Viejo Library as part of the Mission Viejo Poetry + Art Collaborative (2023).

Exploring Folklore: Welsh Lovespoons

In just a few days, my husband and I will celebrate our wedding anniversary. So I thought we’d delve into Welsh lovespoons for the folklore section.

A lovespoon is a decorative spoon carved from a single piece of wood (a common choice of wood being sycamore). In the past, a male suitor would carve a lovespoon with his romantic interest in mind. He used simple tools, like a small knife, to craft not only the spoon, but also intricate designs in the handle. Once complete, he would give the spoon to the woman he loved. If she accepted the gift, they could begin courting.

The gifting of lovespoons is a long-standing tradition in Wales. The oldest lovespoon in the collection at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales dates back to 1667. In modern times, lovespoons are often given as wedding, anniversary, birthday, and christening presents.

Carvers put a great deal of time and effort into their lovespoons, wanting to create beautiful art that symbolizes their affection for the person they will give it to. Each lovespoon is different, capturing both the heart of the carver and the beloved. The symbols carved into the handle are personal and are generally thought to reflect the emotions of the carver. Historical symbols include hearts (love), chain links (loyalty), balls in a cage (number of children), and diamonds (prosperity).

To see photos of Welsh lovespoons in the collection at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, click here. To have a bit of fun creating a virtual lovespoon and emailing it to a friend, click here.

As ever, thank you for subscribing and reading.

All the best,

Steph

PS: If you would like a refresher on the birds of Rhiannon, I did a mini exploration into the folklore surrounding them in my April newsletter, which you can find here.