For the month of love, it is perfect to share Betty O’Hearn’s poem inspired by the Pat Viles artwork.

Betty O’Hearn
BIRDY LOVE
after “Marble and Gray” by Pat Viles

Oak tree provides a ‘birds eye’ view in
the backyard world where we exist.
We have a wonderful life. My husband preens
his splendid crimson coat. The black mask
and crest is what attracted me.

We sing duets to each other. I know
he is true to me and quite the romantic
as he brings me morsels covered in
morning dew. He makes me feel special
despite my brownish shade with various
and sundry duller red wings and tail.

The days in the neighborhood observatory
can be fun watching squirrels, the children
playing after school, and a vigilant watch
directed toward the damn cat!

We live a beautiful life. The backyard
provides a wonderful place of tranquility,
activity, and is all we need.

MARCH AOP DETAILS

Following are the details for the next Art of Poetry at the Hickory Museum of Art:

The submission deadline is March 4, 2017 and the reading will be March 18 at 2:00.

To submit, simply go to the museum and write poems about the works on exhibit. Please note the dates of eligible exhibits below. Submissions should:
-include name of the artist and the title of the inspiring work
-be typed in the body of an email (do not send attachments)
-be typed using 12-point Arial font, single spaced
-be sent to Kelly DeMaegd at geneandkelly@charter.net
-Art of Poetry will use no more than 3 poems by any individual poet
-Art of Poetry reserves the right to decline work that may not be appropriate in content, or of literary quality as determined by its panel of judges.
Poems that are overtly political or religious in nature, or poems that are not appropriate for all ages, will not be considered for this program.

Approximately 20 poems will be selected to be displayed at the museum and to be read by the author (or selected substitute reader) at the reading. The reading is free and open to the public. Audiences have ranged from 15 to 45 people. After the reading, with permission of the poet and artist, poems will be posted on the Art of Poetry website at http://www.artofpoetry.net

Eligible exhibits are as follows:

-Woman Made: Women Artist from the Hickory Museum of Art Collection (Coe, Windows and Objects Galleries ; Through 4/23/17))
*March is Women’s History Month so we’d like to concentrate our poems on this exhibit.
-IMAGE*INATION: Catawba Velley Camera Club Photo Contest (Entrance Gallery, March 3)
-Whitener and Warhol: Juxtaposed (1st Fl. Whitener Gallery; Through 7/16/17)
·Discover Folk Art (3rd Fl. Ongoing)
·Glass & Pottery from the Permanent Collection (2nd Fl. Objects Gallery; Ongoing)
-Solitude and Mystery: John Julius Wilnoty (2nd Fl. Objects Gallery)

The Art of Poetry – NEXT DATE – March 18, 2017 2PM at the Hickory Museum of Art 243 Third Ave. NE. Hickory, NC 28601