Pic and a Word Challenge #180: Courageous

I like the word, courage, as well as its meaning. Here it is in various forms.

I like the courage of Patrick, the Pic and a Word challenger, who went to Barcelona from Canada without realising how much they wish to break free.

I like the courage of Donna Stiles who decided to paint my portrait from a photo when I was 17 years old. She has spurred on the double poem which follows.

The portrait below, entitled You promised, was the first work of her that I adored. I recognised something familiar in her eyes. If you are on Instagram, you can give her a follow.

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"You promised." . . . . #watercolourportrait #watercolour #watercolor #acquerello #acquarelli #aquarela #acuarelas #aguarela #watercolorpainting #portrait #royaltalens #Rembrandt #watercolourart #ritratti

A post shared by Donna Stiles (@donnastilesart) on Jan 20, 2018 at 5:21am PST

I like courage so much that I signed up to write one poem each day throughout April for the second year. It starts tomorrow but here is the poem for Day 0, an early bird challenge that calls for “a poetic self-portrait … in which you portray yourself in the guise of a historical or mythical figure“.

I will call the women below mythical figures, one more than the other.

First the young one. Donna posted this on Facebook without prior notice that she was working on it and it blew me away. She calls it Sweet 17. Thank you so much, Donna!

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"Sweet 17".⁣ Loving the granulation and colours within the new #royaltalensvangogh Oxide Black pigment⁣ and the delicate nature, when really watered down, of the otherwise dreamy intense Dusk Pink.Is it possible to be in love with watercolour pigments? Or is it a recognised medical condition?!⁣ ⁣.⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #watercolorartist #watercolor #watercolour #watercolorportrait #watercolourportrait #watercolorart #artistsoninstagram #aguarela #acuarelas #acquarello #aquarelle #acuarella #fabriano #fabrianopaper #royaltalens #watercolorpainting #watercolorartwork #cartel_watercolorists #inspiring_watercolors #watercolor_daily #watercolorist #watercolor_painting⁣ #ritratti #portrait⁣ #figurativeart⁣ ⁣

A post shared by Donna Stiles (@donnastilesart) on Mar 29, 2019 at 10:10am PDT

As I always say: what we do ripples. Things lead one to another. And so next week she and I are going to visit this place together:

Torre Mozza. Photo: Riotorto Toscana Italy

And now finally, to the poem. It has two parts: in the first the girl above is telling you about courage, and in the second the woman as I am in my mind’s eye takes over.

 Courage, twice

There is courage
 in talking back,
 she would tell you.

 In holding your own, 
 staring them down,
 taking no crap.

 There is courage
 in opening up,
 not holding back,

 allowing yourself
 to become the butterfly
 you always were on the inside.
 
There is courage  
 in living your life
 following the signs

 that only you can see.
 Others must trust
 your inner vision.

 There is courage
 in beginning
 what once will end.

The basis for the painting. 1987.

Adolf Müllner: Roma gypsy smoking a pipe, 1901

There is courage 
at the end of the line,
she would tell you. 

Everyone can lead.
It’s at the end
where the dead drop.

There is courage
in stating your opinion 
and preference. 

There is courage 
in admitting defeat,
mistakes and fears.

There is courage 
in asking for help,
maybe the greatest.

There is courage 
in leaving all you know
to start anew.

There is courage
in watching life change
without panic.

There is courage 
in holding your own hand
as required

when other hands and paws
are not available 
or busy.

There is courage
in staying alive:
not succumbing,

never crumbling,
only a little bit 
grumbling. 

In response to Patrick Jennings’ Pic and a Word Challenge #180: Courage

and for Day 0 of NaPoWriMo

/None of today’s photos was taken by me./