dotty seiter: now playing
diary of an artist at work

Lay Thee Down Now and Rest

oh where oh where can she be?

with neither notice
nor intent
the poet in her
nods off periodically
for naps,
some of them
of some depth and length,
not unlike the way she nods off
when she reads before bed—
snoozing, drifting away,
the conscious mind
unavailable,
returning
for no more than a flash
of plot before
evaporating
yet again
into slumber,
having snagged
only a few words,
an occasional phrase
         porthole … smolder …
         butt-hugging red dress …
         periwinkle … pinecone …
         awkward and original …

dotty seiter

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Poet’s Lullabye
7 x 7″; watercolor on paper
abstract botanical
2026

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Notes about poem and art:
• “oh where oh where” speaks to a recent patch of days when—try as I might—I could not locate the poet in me, a very uncomfortable circumstance. I’m learning slowly to trust that although the poet occasionally nods off without notice, she does wake up again and return to writing.
Poet’s Lullabye is what I created when I availed myself of Amy Maricle’s “Soothing Eucalyptus” session during an 11-day Sketchbook Revival Challenge offered in April by artist Karen Amend and other artists. Amy’s session was sooo nourishingly soothing, gotta say. Her commitment to sharing the practice of slow drawing was and continues to be a welcome gift.



9 responses to “Lay Thee Down Now and Rest”

  1. I love nodding off with “Nothing Much Happens” with a timer on my phone. Most times can’t remember the story next morning. Enjoyed your use of the metaphor, comparing two sides of yourself. My “poet” went on vacation!

    Love your eucalyptus painting, I also follow Amy on her free slow drawing sessions. A really good balance to my scribbles.

    Like

    1. Carol, as I commented at your blog just a short time ago, a poem akin to your “Nothing Is Coming” poem would appear soon at my blog. I wonder how many poets have written their corresponding version of this theme, hahaha!

      Oh, fun to know that you also follow Amy Maricle. I find slow drawing to be very grounding and welcome.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. i usually follow the following Thursday morning because of the time frame.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Joyful Puttering Avatar
    Joyful Puttering

    I can relate to this….nodding off….waking with a hint of an idea that I struggle to make real. But then all of a sudden I’m awake again and I find a groove and go with it.

    You poets are able to turn these naps into poems….that tell where….oh wherever you are! Thanks for being real with us!

    I adore your Poet’s Lullaby piece!

    Like

    1. That nodding off is delicious, isn’t it? Reminds me of watching my kids via rear view mirror in the years when they nodded off in their car seats.

      MaryAnn, thanks for affirming my “being real with us” in my poems.

      I loved painting Poet’s Lullaby under Amy Maricle’s direction; happy to know it struck a chord with you also.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Your post is timely! I have heard from half a dozen other creatives whose muses are napping – disconcerting for each of them! Naps are necessary for both humans and otherworldly muses, I think.

    This: porthole … smolder …          butt-hugging red dress …          periwinkle … pinecone …          awkward and original …

    made me giggle, smile, nod, wiggle, dance. YES!

    Love the result of your slow drawing. Soothing to the viewer, too! xo

    Like

    1. Thank you for the heads up that many muses are napping right along with mine! Who knew! And, of course, naps are necessary for one and all.

      Love that you reflected back the porthole … smolder part of my poem. It was so much fun to craft that list, all words/phrases from books I’m currently reading that I then got to arrange according to what my ear suggested.

      mmmmm, that slow drawing is delish. Glad it hit you right also.

      xo

      Like

  4. I know well this nodding off, especially whilst lying in bed before sleep. How many times have I reread this one page!

    Love your color choice and composition of your watercolor piece, with ethereal and underwater feeling for me. I follow Amy and have been a member of her lower tier for a long time. She’s easy on the senses. Same with Jackie Schomburg. Love her, too.

    Like

    1. LOL at your being well able to identify with the nodding off! It is a delicious feeling, though, yes??

      Thanks for your appreciation of color and composition in Poet’s Lullaby, and I’m grateful for your “ethereal and underwater feeling” feedback. Fun to hear that you also follow Amy, and thank you for your mention of Jackie whom I’ll now go check out online : )

      Like

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In 2014, I grab an unexpected opportunity to paint.

To make art.

I get hooked.

In 2015 I start a blog—a diary of my life as an artist.

I post my paintings and their stories. The good, the bad, the ugly.

My compass points: bust through fear, be playful, get messy, trust my gut.

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