Monday, 13 July 2009

IF – Hollow

scare1

The Hollow Men

~ T S Eliot ~


We are the hollow men

We are the stuffed men

Leaning together

Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!

Our dried voices, when

We whisper together

Are quiet and meaningless

As wind in dry grass.



30 comments:

Holly said...

I woke up feeling like a straw man today, but my colors are no where near that vibrant...next time, I'll ask you to paint me. Hope the week is a wonderful one for you!

Caroline said...

Oh, so good!! Vibrant colours - a perfect choice for this rather tricky one.

Debra Keirce said...

That's the lovliest scarecrow I've EVER seen Tessa!

Coreopsis said...

Great poem excerpt, and BEAUTIFUL scarecrow. I love those vibrant colors. I don't happen to agree with T.S. Eliot, though, about the voices. Dried grasses in the wind DO have something important to say.

kj said...

Dear Blogger:

It is not fair that I am unable to regularly access Tessa's blog. Hers is one of my favorites and I am inspired and comforted by her incredible artwork and kind heart.

This painting is a good example of what I mean. I ask that you immediately rectify your stubborn interference and allow me to enjoy visiting my good friend. I am sure you have better things to do than meddle in this matter.

Thank you in advance, Blogger.
And if you don't shape up, I retract the thank you and instead am prepared to use the F word.

Sincerely,
Ms. kj

Unknown said...

this is a great piece...

he may be hollow but he is filled with colour!!!

Elizabeth said...

Such a scarecrow
wonderfully done
I find TS Eliot
s poems haunting and a little sad
but so beautifully crafted.
Hugs from NY

Irene said...

If I had such a colorful straw man on my little patio, I'm sure the whole neighborhood would come and have a look at him and pull my weeds for me to make his surroundings more charming. Maybe he would scare away the tomcat that's always trying to pick a fight with my Toby on his own territory.

Very nice painting, Tess!

Tomás Serrano said...

Nice, very nice. It´s a beautiful paint.

Reya Mellicker said...

Except - wind in dry grass has lots of great things to say, at least I think so.

The painting is BEAUTIFUL!!

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

This is so moving and beautiful. The colors just pop off the page!! I love the energy I get from this!!! It's wonderful. This is so refreshing!!! Thanks Sweetie for sharing your fabulous gift with us! YOU ROCK!!!!

soulbrush said...

what a friendly and vibrant little fella.

Cheffie-Mom said...

The colors are wonderful! enJOY your day!

Alexandra MacVean said...

Love the scarecrow and the poem/writing goes PERFECTLY with it. Wow! :)

Chris Wolf said...

Everyone refers to him. Why do I think SHE is insulted? Love love love it!

L'Adelaide said...

oh my, this piece is a wonderful one!! he reminds me of summer and cornfields and the rustle of the wind...

as always, I adore your work and this one is very special indeed. I also loved reading eliot so thank you much this day!
X

Rosaria Williams said...

Somehow, your scarecrow is vibrant and full of itself, ready to do its job of scaring those crows; the poem speaks of those allegorical empty heads that can't stand alone, don't have any meaning, heard only through the howling of the wind through the grasses.

This is, nevertheless, a beautiful pairing.

Yoli said...

Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!

Yoli said...

I like that you made the background white for your blog. It highlights your artwork.

Adisha said...

That's such a vivid poem !!! Thoroughly enjoyed it !

kj said...

dear friend, there is an award waiting for you on my blog. please come....

Madame DeFarge said...

Love the picture. I think the birds would admire this rather than be scared away.

INDIGENE said...

Beautiful rich texture and color!

Lori ann said...

Tessa,

I love T.S.Eliot, LOVE him. And of course your painting.Such a brilliant scarecrow. Look at that color!
I thought you might think this bit interesting... Of his nationality and its role in his work, Eliot said: "[My poetry] wouldn't be what it is if I'd been born in England, and it wouldn't be what it is if I'd stayed in America. It's a combination of things." Just like us, all of us here in wonderful blogland!
I think maybe he means when we don't think for ourselves our whispers are meaningless?

much love!
lori

Loni Edwards said...

This is gorgeous! I love the colors! Great idea!

A Cuban In London said...

Although I have not read TS Elliott before (one of those authors whose books are forever in my wishlist but never buy them in the end because other literary works jump the queue) I found myself enthralled by this poem. The use of the first person plural 'we' was spellbinding and very assertive. And the image was equally beautiful. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Polly said...

Is it only me or does this poem sound very, very sad... I think your painting gives it a whole new meaning. I love it!

A Cuban In London said...

Hi, Tessa, thanks for your message. Just wanted to let you know that it is a blogger problem. The same happens to me when I visit your lobg or 'Pics and Poems'. The solution I've found is to go back to the page until it stops aborting the operation. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

carga said...

very nice illo, i like the colors..and nice poeme

Ces Adorio said...

Fantastico! I love your bright colors. You and I love these flaming colors, the ochers, the burnt, the deep and viola! An explosion of colors!