Poemattic: Poetry and Art for the Soul

“Then love knew it was called love.
And when I lifted my eyes to your name,
suddenly your heart showed me my way” -Pablo Neruda

I am convinced that looking into a person’s eyes can lead you to interpretation of someone’s sadness, joy, confusion, depression, and even sanity. Lately, I have trying to capture the essence of these emotions when I photograph someone. My beautiful baby granddaughter has captivating eyes. I love to watch her look into her mother’s eyes. Her curiosity is astounding for a five month old infant. She examines her surroundings and then will look at you at if to ask what is this or where am I?

Of course, I am not original in my fascination with eyes and what they can reveal. Many photographers try to capture the essence of their subjects’ eyes. I will follow suit by taking photographs of people’s eyes in the next few weeks. If you have a photograph that you would like to share please post it on your blog with a tag or #Eyes are Poems.

The following is a poem I wrote many years ago as I watched my students taking state standards tests which they had to pass as a graduation requirement.

EYES

Some bright and alert,

Some showing delight,

Most saddened

too tired to fight,

Some inquisitive,

Some barely interested,

Some totally so frustrated,

Many questions,

fewer answers,

loaded questions,

ambiguity intensive,

questions no one asked them before.

And I was expected to ask them even more.

Their eyes said it all;

their torment so clear.

I watch and learn;

they taught me more

about how,

tests cause true and real fear.

Melba Christie 2001

“The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.”

                                                                             Charlotte Brontë