I have started a new challenge for this year. As if I haven't started enough already, what with the Block-of-the-Month Club and WIP's and UFO's. I am now joining Sara from Lazy Knits and Purls on a poetry adventure. Each month I will choose a poet and read from their works; then hopefully I shall become inspired to design or to crochet a work of art. Doesn't this sound like fun? I think this will be do-able for me, as poetry is generally short and I don't have much time to read. But I love to read and I do love poetry, so I think this new project is a good match. Sara also has a group started on Ravelry located here: Crafting Poetry. Remember you must be logged in to Ravelry for the link to work.
The poem I chose for January is "Maid of Athens, ere we part" by Lord Byron. It was written in 1810 and dedicated to a young girl of Athens. Each stanza of the poem ends with the same Greek refrain which Byron translated as, "My life, I love you!"
In conjunction with this lovely poem, I have crocheted this beautiful 8" square (which I also designed) called Cameo Flower. I could just imagine the lovely maiden giving Lord Byron a cameo of her likeness for him to remember her as they parted ways. I guess I'm just a romantic.
The poem I chose for January is "Maid of Athens, ere we part" by Lord Byron. It was written in 1810 and dedicated to a young girl of Athens. Each stanza of the poem ends with the same Greek refrain which Byron translated as, "My life, I love you!"
Maid of Athens, ere we part: by Lord Byron
Maid of Athens, ere we part,
Give, oh, give back my heart!
Or, since that has left my breast,
Keep it now, and take the rest!
Hear my vow before I go,
Zoл mou sas agapo.
By those tresses unconfined,
Wooed by each Aegean wind;
By those lids whose jetty fringe
Kiss thy soft cheeks' blooming tinge;
By those wild eyes like the roe,
Zoл mou sas agapo.
By that lip I long to taste;
By that zone-encircled waist;
By all the token-flowers that tell
What words can never speak so well;
By love's alternate joy and woe,
Zoл mou sas agapo.
Maid of Athens! I am gone:
Think of me, sweet! when alone.
Though I fly to Istambol,
Athens holds my heart and soul:
Can I cease to love thee? No!
Zoл mou sas agapo.
Won't you join me each month on my Crafting Poetry journey? It will be such fun. And stay tuned to see what I read and craft next month.
What an interesting idea! I look forward to seeing how the poetry inspires your crochet. Neat stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I have been admiring this Cameo Flower for some times at Ravelry. My daughter who has just begun crocheting has been surching all over to find THE ideal square for her futur project, her first afgan of squares. She has fallen in love with this square!
ReplyDeleteI would be very happy to be able to surprise my daughter, therefor I would like to ask you if it is possible to buy just this pattern? I hope you don't find it impolite :)