You may know that in addition to my artwork I also write poetry (posted on my blog Claudia McGill Writes Poetry, Did You Know That?). For the next several months I will be posting here a combined art/poetry project, Large Artist Sketchbook 2020.
I fill up sketchbooks with all kinds of art. Some contain images only and some of them I use the images as inspiration for poetry. In these books the image is on one page of the spread and the poetry on the other. This book is set up in this manner.
I’ll show you the image and then add the poem that goes with it. See what you think.
We drove oh how long
we were in the car
eleven hours through
three meals rest stops and
pulling over to
get out and stretch the
road kept on reaching
out and pulling us
along until we
tried to turn to get
away but always
another one stepped
in to take us up
All day from sunrise
to after black dark
the car carried us
I envied the trees
alongside the road
because they were set
dug in with their roots
did not have to go
anywhere no one
made them travel a
mile. Ever. I so
wished I could be home.
2/14/20
Large Artist Sketchbook 2020 Image 3
each line 5 syllables
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
You’re a great artist Claudia. The poetry too!!
Thank you. You made my day.
Smiles.
I could feel that. I smiled as I read your poem, it took me back to a 13 hour road trip my family took once.
When I was young we used to visit my granparents who lived only about 250 miles away (today less than 5 hours) but in my childhood it took the 11 hours I refer to here, on narrow roads, and included a ferry crossing at the Ohio River. It was adventure all right, but I was not much of a traveler and to a kid it seemed …endless… to our arrival at night in time to go to bed.
Oh such great memories!
As you know, I love our road trips but I also find that I am very glad to be home and stay home for a while after each of those travels. I am, therefore, maybe a bit of a tree but one that likes to wander. Like a triffid? I hope not. I love the accompanying art work. The textures are gorgeous and the use of the golden yellow and rich purple make me think of that quality of light that occurs just before a heavy storm. Having thought that, I was struck by the way the poplar trees (that is how I interpret the trees) are standing tall and fixed as if they are ready to face off against and endure any kind of weather.
I have to laugh. I don’t think I know another person whow would mention a triffid. Ah, those malevolent ambulatory creatures and their apocolyptic effects on Earth. I loved that book. Anyway, this poem is written thinking of long trips we made to my grandparents’ house before Interstates, and how the trips made me feel (even though the picture doesn’t resemble southern Illinois). I have less interest in going fr from home, but I hope to go a little ways away this year. I guess being forced to stay home has affected even me.