"Segue On An Autumn Road"

Hi All!

My videoetry for today is another first!  Three Youtube channels that I follow contributed video, photos, and music for a videoetry I put together about life and autumn roads. 

Sean Rutkowski with laketahoeweather, who was my first non-family contributor, is back with some great fall video footage around Lake Tahoe.  "Autumn Notes" music from donniemusicchannel and Don Sanders, adds the perfect haunting backdrop for the piece.  Then, great macro photography from ithree6mafia rounds the videoetry out.  Voila! Another videoetry is born!

Autumn is my favorite time of year and I've always loved how the trees seem to give this great gasp of beauty and energy before they "die" for the winter.   Where are you on life's road?

Ciao for now and hope you enjoy "Segue On An Autumn Road".

Mel

An "Autumn Moon" Is Rising in This Collaborative Videoetry!

Today, I introduce my second videoetry which I collaborated with someone to create.  Courtney Bowman, a fantastic photographer who is only a high school senior, shared this photograph with me to use for my "Autumn Moon" poem. 

Embracing the concept of the line "Removes the colors from our sight" from the Moody Blues song "Nights In White Satin", I had created a poem.   The videoetry required a cool shot of a moon in the fall and I happened to remember this photograph from Courtney's photo album on FaceBook.  It was taken in the fall of 2010. 

Not only does this photograph hold the requisite full moon, but it has one tree with full green leaves and yet another which is headed toward nakedness.  A perfect representation for this particular time of year.

Hope you enjoy "Autumn Moon" on Videoetry.  Many thanks to Courtney for her photo!

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Sunflowers"

Today, I feature my first collaboration with someone other than family. In this videoetry, beautiful sunflowers are celebrated in footage provided by LakeTahoeWeather's Sean Rutkowski. I was honored that Sean offered his video footage for me to use in videoetries. There is more of his lovely footage from the Lake Tahoe area he shared with me, and I hope you will check back to see what other videoetric delights we can come up with!

Add to the mix, a fantastic tune from DanoSongs.com.  There you can download free music to use in your videos.  I look forward to exploring more of Dano's tunes for future works.

 

I hope you enjoy "Sunflowers".

Ciao for now!

Mel

"Prayer for Texas"

My recent trip to Texas found me scootin' through the back country southwest of Dallas, meeting nice folks, and gaping at the expansiveness of everything.  People still smile there even though the ground is thirsty. 

Many said they were sad that I would see their land in a drought, but I still saw the tenacious beauty that is Texas.  I offer this prayerful videoetry in hope that rain will return soon.

Hope you enjoy "Prayer for Texas".

"Ode To Tahoe" and Labor Day Weekend

Happy Labor Day Weekend, Folks!

Today I reach back into my photo collection and use photos to create a videoetry about Lake Tahoe.  Wish like heck I was there!  Tahoe is currently in the throes of summer's last breath and will probably see the first snows soon.

fabulouslaketahoe made a comment on my "Shenandoah" videoetry on how beautiful it is up there in Virginia.  When I remarked to him that he lives in the most remarkable place, he commented that you have to work around stuff.  True, but that's true anywhere.  Even places like Yosemite have touristas everywhere getting in your photographing way.

I know I have eyed a huge bunch of these beautiful, yellow flowers at my kids' bus stop.  I keep fussing at myself for not bringing my cell phone to get a shot of those flowers in the early sunrise light.  They're at the end of our drive and next to ugly blacktop, but I bet I'll make them pretty!  If I do get some shots before they die, you'll be the first to know.

Finally, I dedicate this videoetry to two of my subscribers who a) live in fabulous Lake Tahoe and b) follow my videoetries.  I truly appreciate you laketahoeweather and fabulouslaketahoe!  Hope you enjoy
"Ode To Tahoe".

Ciao for now!
Mel

Quick Trip Yields Gorgeous Views and "Shenandoah"

Hi All!

Ahhh, a little trip to the Shenandoah River valley in western Virginia is just the cure for my little videoetry drought.  What amazing views from the valley, but to experience Skyline Drive that winds down the spine of the Appalachian Mountains?  Whoa!  I highly recommend it. 

Shenandoah National Park has a $15 per car fee, but it gets you to hiking trails, Skyline Drive (which is nearly 100 miles long), and a ton of overlooks.  We started at the top at Front Royal and drove to the bottom.  If you can't hang for 100 miles, there are many exits along the way you can use to leave the park.

I used the acrostic form of poetry to spell out "Shenandoah" (click to see video).  Hope you enjoy my latest videoetry.

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Blink"

This poem took two funeral processions to get written down.  It is a reflection on that very sad part of life - death, and the Southern way of honoring the dead as they move to their final resting place.  People in the rural South pull their cars over for the dead and their mourners - a tradition lost in urban areas and other parts of the US.

As I said, it was written in two parts - it first came to me on the long drive from the funeral home to our family cemetary where we buried my grandfather.  It revisited me two months later as I was driving in my husband's aunt's funeral procession.  I managed to jot it down without running over the car in front of me. 

Please click here to see "Blink"

Ciao for now...
Mel

"Five Flats In Cut Time"

Another poem inspired by a prompt at Poetic Asides http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/, "Five Flats and Cut Time" is about a moment for me when I was NOT paying attention.  If you know anything about music, time and key signatures are awfully important.  If you miss what they're telling you (as I did :) ), it can sound AWFUL!

You can also scroll through at http://www.virtualpoetryreading.com/ and find this poem read by me among others.  This neat site from poet, Buddah Moskowitz, allows one to exercise their vocal skills and read your poetry as if you're at a poetry slam.  Hey!  I miss Teen Poetry Happens @ The Bean during the summer.  I need something!

Hope you enjoy "Five Flats and Cut Time"

Ciao for now!
Mel

Step Back In Time To Celebrate July 4th!

Ahhhhh....it was only a year ago that our family went on that marvelous vacation out west that spurred on videoetries!  Today, I thought I would highlight our Lake Tahoe section of the journey as that's where we spent the 4th and 5th of July last year. 

According to Fabulous Lake Tahoe's blogspot, Lake Tahoe's fireworks are rated at 6th best in the country.  After seeing them, I would say definitely so!

My husband and I both wrote poetry about the fireworks.  Then, I created videoetries for both. 

Hope you enjoy Brent's poem "Twice The Show" 

and my poem "Tahoe Toe Lapping"

Happy Independence Day!

Mel

"Lost in Enchantment"

Hi There!

I'm proud to launch this videoetry that was inspired by a poem my son wrote while traveling in New Mexico last summer.  Trying to find our way on the Mile High Road from Santa Fe to Taos, we kind of got sidetracked (OK, lost).  My son decided this would be the moment to launch his poetic musings.  Ha!

In case you don't know, New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment.  Hence the name of his poem.

Videoetries may be sparse over the summer as it is when I am the busiest with summer reading at the library.  Why won't some of you come up with video snippets?  Remember the rules above and get creating!

Ciao for now!  Hope you enjoy "Lost in Enchantment"! http://www.youtube.com/Videoetry?feature=mhee#p/u/6/V0LFFknQvNQ
Mel

"Goodnight, Little Girl"

Hi There!

My videoetry for this week was inspired by a poem I wrote for Poetic Asides, an online poetic community to which I regularly contribute. http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/  The poetry prompt for that week was to write a reality based poem without metaphor or simile. 

Since this incident truly happened and my "little" girl has left the building (OK, so I CAN'T completely get away from metaphor), I thought the poem fit the prompt quite well.

The photographs of her come from our wonderful vacation out west last year.  Hope you enjoy "Goodnight, Little Girl"

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Purple Haze" and we're not talking Hendrix!

Oh, but the teens like this title!  Jimi Hendrix still thrills the new generation. 

This poem was written about a gorgeous wisteria vine that was adorning a fence in front of a beautiful home in Charleston, SC last year.  Our family was there for Easter (see "Lonely Palm of Folly") and I imagined a war between the fence and the vine. 

The poem is published in the 2011 edition of The Lyricist poetry magazine.  Campbell University sponsors the statewide poetry contest and puts out the winners and honorable mentions in the magazine each April.

Hope you enjoy "Purple Haze".

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Lonely Palm of Folly"

Hi All!

I love Charleston, SC and all the islands and communities around it.  While my family and I were waiting in a very long line of traffic to get to Folly Beach last Easter, I noticed a beautiful palm tree soaring above everything else in the marsh.  It occurred to me that the palm had probably survived things like Hugo and many a lightning strike.  I mostly wrote this poem as my family frolicked on the beach that very day. 

The poem has been published in The Lyricist, a poetry magazine released through Campbell University.  Hope you enjoy "Lonely Palm of Folly"!

Ciao for now!
Mel

Don't Get Stuck in A Rut

Unless it's in a beautiful canyon on Lake Powell that is! 

Hi All!

Today's videoetry features photos from some of the side canyons off Glen Canyon in north central Arizona.  The bath tub ring as they call it is quite prevalent in the spring as the mountain snows hadn't made it into the resevoir yet. 

Mix the white ring with the "Navajo tapestry" of manganese and iron oxide painted walls and crystal green waters and you have yourself a photographic feast for the eyes!

http://www.youtube.com/Videoetry?feature=mhum#p/u/6/E4mYefn2jD4

Ciao for now!
Mel

A "Crystal Road" Less Traveled!

Hi All!

Today's videoetric offering (how's that for a new word?) is from a poem I submitted to The Lyricist - a statewide poetry magazine produced by Campbell University.  I gave them three poems and they are publishing two.  This one didn't make the cut, but I have a videoetry that's been waiting to be published.

I have videoetries ready for the other two when the Lyricist folks give me the OK to put them out there.

The poem was inspired by a drive home in pristine snow.  (No one else was crazy enough to be out in it!)  The photographs are from around my house when snows and ice have come for a visit. 

So here goes "Crystal Road"!

Mel

Happy Easter With Beautiful Desert Sunsets

Good Friday to you!

Since we have now come into the spring season and Easter is almost here, I wanted to post this videoetry with gorgeous desert sunset shots.  Again, Arizona amazed me with its beauty.  I would never have imagined such amazing color in a desert setting.  Very moving!

These shots were taken near Cottonwood, AZ and on Lake Powell.  I was dining with friends who live out there (lucky folks!) at the Wahweap Marina when that brilliant pink one turned even the lake pink!  Whoa!

The poem is about self reflection which I was able to do while putting around for hours by myself with the wind in my hair and the feast in my eyes.  OK, so I romanticized it a bit.  I was in a Corolla with the AC on - not a convertible! - but you get the picture. 

Have a blessed Easter and enjoy "Painted Desert".
http://www.youtube.com/Videoetry?feature=mhee#p/u/9/7TvorBwV-c8

Ciao for now!
Mel

"You're So Vein"

Hi Again,

No, it's not that I can't spell, but it is a play on words. 

This poem came to me last October as I was flying back from Denver.  Looking from the plane to the river valleys below was interesting.  They look like capillaries, but of course, rivers and their tributaries work in reverse.  Instead of bringing fluids to the bitter end, that's where the water collection starts.

I didn't have a decent camera with me to take photos of the river valleys in October, but as I was flying to Phoenix last week, I shot these. 

Thus completes the videoetry!  Have photos, music, and a poem and we're dealing!  Remember, if you have any material to share, I would love to see it.

Ciao for now!  Click here to see "You're So Vein"
Mel

Where Have You Been, Danny Boy?

I feel like I've been missing!  OK, so I have.   Sorry... Life comes at you fast!

I had to put something out there, so here you go!  http://www.youtube.com/Videoetry#p/u/6/FmiTdYCx7EI

I snapped this shot off a webcam I follow in Yosemite.   In the sky above the mountain, a cloud looked like a hand.  Was thrilled to catch it at that moment. 

I'll be in Arizona next week and cannot wait to see what shots I get out there.  Hope I'll wax poetic as well. 

Ciao for now!
Mel

Love The Beach!

G'Day!

Today, I have joined a Global Education Collaborative.  It is my hope that I can encourage folks from all around the world to get creative and share their world through videoetry! 

Hopefully, they will peek in and see what I am slowly putting together.  And contribute to the channel as well!

Remember, I do not wish to take anyone's work as my own.  YouTube is a free service and I encourage people to create their own channel.  Then, let me know about it, so I can pull your channel into my playlists.

It's all free and who knows?  We might find the next Nobel Poet in Africa or the next Sir Steven Spielberg in Japan!  Create!

Here is a videoetry I created about beaches with footage from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  I hope you enjoy "Days of Beach" http://www.youtube.com/user/Videoetry?feature=mhum#p/u/6/Bc571wD56H8

Ciao for now!
Mel

Go Heels!

Today, I feature a videoetry called "Kansas".  Long story short, our family was in Colorado and heading for Rocky Mountain National Park.  We stopped in beautiful Nederland, CO and a man there at the visitor's center said it would be a perfect day in the park . He said we would be able to see all the way to Kansas.

This shot of my daughter is one of my favorites from our trip. I decided to use this videoetry to demonstrate my love for my alma mater - UNC - as well as for our extraordinary coach, Roy Williams. Videoetries can go in ALL kinds of directions!

Tonight is the big Duke game.  No matter what happens, win or lose, we are blessed to have Coach Williams!  Go Heels!
Click here for "Kansas"

Mel