Poems from the Past - from Nancy Bell Scott

[Marie Wintzer]

 

Recently there have been several great blogs about mail art related to Memories and Memory. The piece that Nancy is sending me breathes the same air of Reminiscence. It comes with a wonderful letter, relating sweet childhood memories, freewheeling days at her grandparents' farmhouse. A child's universe, a lost world, but how come ever so present in the adults that we are? Nancy's letter is such a nice piece of writing. I know nothing about barns and landscapes in upstate New York, but reading it transported me there, at at the same time brought me back to my own grandparents' house.
The art is a patchwork of Islands, just like one would expect Memories to look like. Torn, Old, Distinct but Overlapping, Smooth, Rough, Colorful, Washed Out. Fragile but Un-erasable (have you seen the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"?).

 

 

The envelope included a second piece, a wonderful little book with painted cover, containing Nancy's favorite poem.

I am still alive
the little falcons will
tell you
the stars will tell you
I will still come back.
Don't cry yet
spotted butterfly
The stones I piled to
mark my way
have not yet fallen down
Just ask them

(old Quechua poem)

 

 

I have to say, this DID bring tears to my eyes. 
Such a beautiful poem, and a perfect continuation to the piece above.
On the right page, Nancy is pairing the original text with her overwritten asemic version of it. This is working so well on so many levels. She is making it entirely hers. Not necessarily giving it a new meaning, but maybe writing down an asemic story about how she relates to that poem and what it means for her. And then sharing it with me and with us! What a fantastic present, Nancy, thank you!!

 

[cheryl penn]

Maire - this is a beauty - lucky you - AND lucky Nancy - you did a FAB blog :-) X