Art Meets Poetry

Friends – I recently participated in the Art Meets Poetry event and the beautifully crafted words by Lori Hawk Fyfe in the poem entitled “Roots” resonated deeply with me because we are both “life-storm” survivors. While our situations are different, the pain that she expressed in her poem is one that I relate to. Thus I wanted to create a piece of art filled with symbolism and images that would successfully illustrate the emotions she captured with her words. I chose the following items that captivated the full expression of this piece of poetry.

Trees – The trees were chosen to signify Lori’s three sons. I wanted to create them in a way that had the feeling of hands reaching up to the sky, as referenced in her poem.

Hearts – Lori mentions hearts a few times in her piece. I was inspired to put hearts at the bottoms of the roots as a mother’s love for her children is often the anchor that helps a child endure tragedy.

Words – Lori’s final lines at the end of her poem reference how her boys remain firm and strong. I feel that those powerful words needed to be written on the canvas so the viewer would be inspired to reflect on how their own painful circumstance has helped them grow.

Sun – The sun is Lori’s love for her boys as she guides them through this horrific event.

I enjoyed creating the piece and found painting it to be quite cathartic and helpful in healing my own heartache. The process of painting this piece was a blessing. Hugs to you! Deana (Dee-na)