Memorial for MRD - Poems & Sketches

From the notebooks of Maurine Rose Donnelly,

a sample of Sketches from 1956 to 1989 and Poems from 1952 to 2019

Holiday Spirit

I was perplexed, being younger,

when an older relative told me

it didn't matter to her

that her Christmas Tree was not dressed

in full grandeur. I determined then

never to lose the Spirit of the Tree.

One year a storm interrupted ordinary plans

so I found a big branch in the backyard

blown down by the heavy winds

and brought it into the house for a Tree.

I dressed it with strings of beads and popcorn,

ornaments, lights and happiness.

I found that the Spirit of the Tree

does not reside in the Tree or the Wreath

bought from King Kullen's every year

to put on the front of the house,

but in memories,

burnished by Time.

Maurine Rose Donnelly

November 13, 2013

Eric and I remember the year that the poem "Holiday Spirit" speaks about, and the branch was absolutely lovely! When, on the day before Christmas, our father went out to buy a real tree to replace the branch, we had mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, since the branch had touched all of our hearts and was indeed beautiful. So, that year, we kept both the branch and the tree decorated throughout the holidays! Our mother brought much joy and artistry into our lives. ~ Patrice

Artist's Retreat

Sitting under the filtering leaves

shaded from sharp thoughts;

inviting peace so elusive otherwise.

One of the swan's children leads

the swimming troop to be fed at the dock,

trying his wings in the leadership role.

Gobbling treats, talking in soft velvet cheeps

that sound disconcertingly far away

even while only three feet from your ear.

Painter's sketching, water coloring, penciling,

choosing their spots for the most perfect point of view;

planning to choose another view some other time

to finally arrive at the truth of things. The cooing

of the mourning dove lends a riff to the afternoon.

Bird hymns sanctify the day.

Maurine Rose Donnelly

August 12, 1998

Postcard Message

The address was partially obliterated so I received

the postcard instead. It said that he said he was in Las Cruses,

New Mexico, a beautiful place that she would like and he

will return for Turkey Day and would see her then.

He wanted her to stay out of trouble while he was gone.

He sent his love.

I returned the postcard to the post office. Did they send it on

to the right person? Did she see him on Turkey Day?

I hope it turned out well.

She will never know of my importance to her when I sent

the post card back to be redelivered. How many times

has fate been redirected in matters such as this?

Maurine Rose Donnelly

November 22, 1998

Maurine at her home in 2016 with an oil painting from c. 1952 entitled "Fruit Bowl". Maurine's father made the picture frame.

Music From the Circus Print

Primary tones coming from the instruments

painted with intensity make your eye

change visions into sound in your head.

There's a sax with a heavy throat, guitar,

mandolin, tambourine, wooden sticks

and a banging drum.

Yellows, purples, blues, reds,

oranges, violets; colors dance

in shoes of magic,

singing with voices

and mystical harmonies

in a starry scene.

Maurine Rose Donnelly

October 17, 1997

Our mother had requested years ago that we not post her completed works of art, including oil paintings, collage, and other mediums, randomly on the internet, unless she had given expressed permission to do so or unless they were part of a printed, copyrighted collection. I had suggested she create an online art gallery and offered to help her set one up, which is how the discussion started. It is up to the artist as to how best to show one's work, and our mother always wanted people to view the actual art in person. She was also respectful of her own and other artists' intellectual property rights. Late in life, as our mother learned more about the internet and various software as part of her work at the Library and for personal interest, our mother looked at different ways to replicate her works of art, such as photos, prints, booklets, and e-books, however, a personal relationship with the work of art was always the main goal, and the presentation of work was always important, too. The work displayed here respects our mother's wishes, and all sketches presented herein are copyrighted. A printed booklet is currently in the works with poems, sketches and paintings.

The studies in her notebooks span over 30 years of work, and each was intended as a possibility for a future oil painting, sculpture, collage, or other finished work. The "Man Waiting" (rooster holding his hat), the "Fruit Bowl," the "Madonna in the Shadows," "Mother and Child," and many other paintings were first sketched and cataloged in her notebooks. Most of her sketches were numbered, although I did not find the index among her notebooks - I am sure there was an index, lost now to time.

Our mother's first artworks were displayed and sold in the 1950s. Her last oil painting, "Happiness" was completed in 1995 and last collage, "The Shadows Fall in the Desert," in 1997. She turned next to poetry.

Please e-mail me any thoughts or images you would like posted on this page below in the comments section, and I will post your words/images here for all viewers. You may also wish to go to the Obituary page, the last page in this Memorial, for more options on remembering Maurine Rose Donnelly.

~ With love and gratitude for your remembrance, Patrice

Please contact Patrice at Patrice@memorialformrd.com to post additional comments here:

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