Tea, Coffee, Poetry?

Sunday, June 10, 2012

 



I have heard that the poet, Kate Camp, uses the moments while the jug boils to learn poetry, committing new lines and invented worlds to memory.  I like the idea of holding it close, cupped in a cupped hand.

I found these hipped tulip shaped cups in the opp shop a while ago.  They sat there for weeks, passed over for the more traditional shapes. I had seen the wonderful designs that Melissa*of Tiny Happy was making and wanted to turn these forgotten cups into something more than forgotten, something similar to hers. 

I searched my husband's childhood book of poetry for verses to use.  The poems needed to be short, short lines and somehow linked in imagery. I ended up with a pair of bird poems.  Strangely, I ended up two of my favorite poets Christina Rossetti and Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Swallow and The Eagle respectively.  Tennyson's poem can be read here .  Rossetti appears to have written about swallows time and time again but here is the particular poem on this cup

The Swallow
Fly away, fly away, over the sea,
Sun-loving swallow for summer is done.
Come again, come back to me,
Bringing the summer, and bringing the sun.

I like the way the cups have turned out.  I am silently kicking myself for the misspelling on one of the cups.  I might even foolishly promise a prize to the first to spot it.  While I am still deciding between the thick and thin penmanship, I have learnt to leave the space you drink from blank.  The paint in this area has needed a few touch ups.

I'm mulling over other snippets and images to paint in words over other cups. Perhaps a poem to be broken over a teaset of cups, or something with imagery so veiled that my company might gradually blush as they realise what they are reading.

*I was saddened to read that Melissa will be stepping back from blogging for a while, but delighted to her she is taking up new studies.  I look forward to hunting out her byline one day soon.




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19 comments

  1. I think they're gorgeous! What a lovely idea!

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    1. Thank you, they have been a long time in the pondering.

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  2. That's a great idea!! I love the black script on white :) they look fabulous!

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    1. Thanks. Though, some color could be good on cups for kids. Perhaps with illustrated nursery rhymes..

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  3. Fab idea! I'm terrible at remembering poetry (among other things)!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. I have a friend whose father bet her $20 that she couldn't memorize TS Elliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. I think it might take more than one teacup for that one though.
      I can usually only remember the vague gist and imagery, then get it all muddled when trying to explain it to others.

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  4. What a wonderful project! I bet those cups would be snapped up super-quick were they back in the op-shop now with their new look x

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    1. Heaven forbid, they should accidentally end up in the oppshop box... though, should any of their wordless friends end up in the shop, I will gladly take them home.

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  6. Hello- they look great - what kind of pens did you use and where did you get them?
    Fleur

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    1. The pens are pebeo porcelaine 150, fine tip for both cups. Varying the ink flow appeared to change the thickness of the writing.

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  7. Behold a beautiful cup of steamng tea and with words to think about muse....how refreshing! We love poetry in our house, often recite one at dinner time.

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    1. What a great idea! The closest we get is The Gruffalo or some other rhyming story on the couch.

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  8. Great job! My favorite Christina Rossetti poem is Who Has Seen The Wind. And if the paint needs touch-ups where you drink, you can easily fix the misspelling... At least its on the bottom!
    ~Trudy http://thriftscore42.blogspot.com/

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  9. The writing and its design looks sweet. Im thinking of making something like this as a gift for my auntie's birthday. :)

    Cody

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  10. very very sweet idea. I would be tempted to write something rude, but then of course rude words on pottery has a well claimed pedigree. so hard to be original, isn't it?

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  11. I love Christin Rossetti, that is a lovely idea xx

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  12. These are just lovely - my kids love poetry, I really should make some more available!

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