
Holiday greetings! May the peace and joy of the season be yours!
Here is Tom’s adorable poem!
The Cardinal and the Chickadee
were sitting on a branch.
Said the Chickadee to Cardinal,
“It makes me want to blanch
to think that I’ve forgotten
that thing I can’t remember.”
“Do you know,” the Cardinal said
“It’s almost gone December?”
“I know! I know!” said Chickadee,
“Yet still I have forgot
a thing to do with joyous times
and presents that we’ve bought!”
“Perhaps a visit from a bird
all dressed in Santa-red
might jog your brain, you poor old thing,”
was all the Cardinal said.
“Of course! That’s it!” said Chickadee,
then sang a happy song.
“It’s Christmas, yes, it’s Christmastime!
I knew it all along!”
image (c) 2017 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) 2017 TJ Radcliffe
So many striking features: the composition, the colors contrasted with the monochrome, the cartoonish yet photoish yet zen subject, the nice volume of one bird and the beautiful flatness of the other, the feeling that this could be asian-traditional yet it’s not, it’s very modern, etc… It’s a new favourite!
Thanks Max! I am really happy you appreciate it. ☺️ I actually did this subject a few times before this one. It was difficult to achieve the feeling I wanted.
I find the use of negative space compelling almost oriental in effect. Works for me. Thanks.
Glad you like it. I found that as soon as I used ink with a brush instead of a pen, the piece became more “zen”. 😊