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WRITING: Each year, the University of Virginia holds a contest called, Writer’s Eye, a series of workshops and museum walks that asks participants to explore ekphrastic writing. The task is to use art to create an original piece of poetry or prose. I liked the idea of using art as a prompt, and attended a workshop in mid-October. We spent much of the time analyzing a sculpture by Melvin Edwards and then writing in groups. In the end, I chose a photograph by Juan Manuel Echavarría (above), called Silencio con Rayo from the series Silencios (2011). The series documents abandoned schoolhouses in northeastern Columbia after it was ravaged by civil war. I don’t write poetry often but it felt appropriate here. I called the poem On Being Left. Notice the light in this photo. Notice and imagine the hard (the board, the cracked floor, the tough lessons) and the soft (the light, the chalk, the children). The poem personifies the schoolhouse; how on being left, she steadies herself to feel the light — her gratitude that they were there in the first place. The last line I wrote in my head after leaving Henry at Gate A14, tearing up in the airport bathroom. READING: Truth be told, I’ve always kinda had a crush on Beethoven. Feeling compelled to properly learn about him, I bought Beethoven, Anguish & Triumph by Jan Swafford. Swafford, a learned musician himself, writes, “As a man and young artist, the younger Ludwig van Beethoven was someone for whom ideas, ideals and art outshone people in the flesh. And, like his grandfather, the composer Ludwig van Beethoven saw music as his salvation.” I don’t know, ya’ll. That’s alluring. The book is also about 950 pages. Stedman and Alice are “taking the under” that I’m finishing it, which means, of course, I’m finishing it come hell or high water. LISTENING: I was in no mood for a podcast this past month — I don’t always want to be told how to live or think. Sometimes I just want to listen to Drake and get shit done. In case you need one, I made another playlist called MOVE, which is solely rap and hip hop. I love this genre because it combines a few of my favorite things: words and rhythm and metaphors. It is Travis Scott. Drake. Ice Spice. J. Cole. Some 90s rap. Henry and I go round and round about Drake’s best track when he drops a new album, and we never agree. I put our two favorites on here so you can decide. I’m always listening to Taylor. I noticed on my walk, with her in my ear, that I think you can hear her foot on the pedal of the piano during Champagne Problems. The lesson across the board: listen closer. I also listened to Noah Kahan on repeat. I love the songs Orange Juice, You’re Gonna Go Far and Dial Drunk, but Northern Attitude is it for me. If the sun don’t rise till the summertime, forgive my northern attitude I was raised on little light.
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