andrea hope

Poem I am working on for two artist friends who are getting married!

I think He pictured it.
A boy and girl in black and white whose lives were meant to collide with the deepest reds and blues and hues that only God could perfect
and He, I can only imagine that He posed them in Polaroids on grandparents’ laps of optical illusions that they’d soon overlap

when they understood the beauty that pictures could snap
that hearts could shutter
and lenses only shake with the anticipation of filling just one space in their memory books

and He pictured it
that they would turn glossy in His light, two depicted in pixels that enlarge like billboards to illumine the path of God
and lose no depth as prophetic postcards  
and they would also strive in dark rooms together
to leave those in awe who have forgotten just what a little dark room can develop

and I can only imagine that the angels sing a joyous song today
when the scraps that were sent to them
the pieces of picture puzzles meant for them

find frame
in the rapture of captured love
so we gaze these snapshots high above
a handmaiden and servant whose fingers leak with the pigments of heavenly signs

and we can only shutter
when we pause to picture the flash of mastepieces
that they have yet to design

© Andrea Hope. All Rights Reserved. January 2011

Looking to join the poetry scene in your area? or just want to catch a show 
Stay tuned to this post for contests and events.

FEATURED: Poet Saul Williams, featured on Def Poetry Jam, is editing an anthology of fresh, new, and unheard voices in modern poetry. Submit (please no more than 3 poems) on any and all topics. Send your sub/trans/missions to 

martyrloserking@gmail.com

FEATURED: The National Poetry Slam for 2011 will be held in Boston August 7-13. Poets from cities in the US and Canada participate in a week of creative events and competitions. For more info visit their website here. (I went last year and the vibe was incredible for poets and poet lovers)

FEATURED: When you’re in the Washington DC area check out Busboys and Poets. Named after Langston Hughes, their three coffee house style venues offer an array of poetry events all year.

Click here for a list of east coast venues with weekly and monthly open mics and slams.

Someone once asked me, when did I “go green?” It was a tough question to answer, loving the earth just makes sense, right? Things enhanced when I applied to be a R. A. for George Mason University’s Green Floor and I’m never looking back.  I don’t know if we ever went green, it seems to me we were always green and then we got shady! So here’s some tips for the environmentalists, whether large or small scale, to get back 2 your hue…

5 Ways to Help the Earth - for the Tree Hugger

1. Flush less toilets, the average 3-person household flushes around 50 gallons of water a day. So remember the rule, if it’s yellow, keep it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down. (Tidbit: if you drink the proper amount of water, it’ll be clear and that’s even better)

2. Recycle. I know you’ve seen the bins! Don’t settle for home, create a scrap box by the copier at work or a full out recycling bin for all those extra papers & bottles/cans at the end of a busy work week.

3. Switch your bulbs. What’s the buzz on fluorescent light bulbs?
 They last up to 10 times longer & equal a lot less energy

4. Think reusable! If you carry a reusable bag everyday, you’ll be surprised how many times you get a chance to use it between getting lunch, stopping by the local pharmacy, or grocery store. (Tidbit: Having your own bottle cuts down on the temptation to drink a lot of sugary beverages throughout the day. If need be though, they have those handy Gatorade & Crystal Light mixers)

5. My absolute favorite tip is plan a nature outing with your friends or family. A trip to Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, or even your local Botanical Gardens can really give everyone an appreciation for the earth’s natural beauty.

5 More Ways to Help - for the Over Achiever

1. Use plug-in lights less. There are obvious benefits to turning off lights when you aren’t using them, but you’re also encouraged to open your shades and utilize sunlight as long as you can.

2. Use public transit. If you live in a big city like me, it will probably save you on time also. If you live in a small city where transit is limited, consider bringing your bicycle along and biking the extra distance. 
(Tidbit: Carpooling is nice as well)

3. Go vegetarian. In addition to the vegetarian options that most restaurants offer, vegetarian and vegan restaurants are popping up all over the place
 
4. Use a good ol’ clothesline to dry your clothes. (Tidbit: Washing in cold water as much as possible also helps because most of the energy is in heating the water)

5. Volunteer to clean up your local nature spots. This can be as simple as picking up trash on a daily basis or as grand as volunteering with organizations like your local department of parks/rec or through volunteer match and idealist.org