Nesting Time: Karin Mear
Daily Flights
A poem by Rachel Carney in response to ‘Nesting Time’ by Karin Mear
Search for the softest down, the brightest rain,
the drift of a cloud, the blink of an eye. Search
for a twig of strength, the brush of dawn, the grip
of a hand, the hope of a hug. Search on the breeze,
in the smile of a man, the gleam of ripples
on the lake, search for the wisp of a laugh
far off, the pull of wings that ache. Search in the
grey of empty streets, search for the edge of a
blackbird’s trill, the hint of a song sung in the dark,
stripes above a windowsill. Take your time, bring each
delicious mouthful of freedom to the nest, drop
it in, arrange it perfectly, then you can fly again.
Reflections on the Writing Process
“This image of a nest comes from Karin Mear’s online exhibition Coal Tips and Patty Tins. It made me feel quite joyful, initially, but as I looked closer I could see that there were lines overlapping lines, and the more I looked, the more I realised that this represented the culmination of a long and challenging search for each piece of nesting material. I started writing, and found that my pen took me towards my own thoughts of lockdown, memories of childhood and a longing to see family again. I ended up thinking of my young niece, many miles away, embarking on her daily walks, looking for rainbows in people’s windows.”
About the Virtual Poet in Residence
This poem is part of a series written during the Coronavirus pandemic, in response to online exhibitions, and blog post research undertaken by artists and volunteers in partnership with Cynon Valley Museum. You can read more of Rachel Carney’s work during this residency over on the Poet in Residence page. Rachel is a poet, book blogger and PhD student, and she’s also spent several years working in museums. Her PhD research explores the benefits of using creative writing in art museums, and she’s particularly interested in examining the writing process. You can find out more about her work and PhD on her blog.
The Cynon Valley Museum Trust, like so many others during this pandemic, have suffered a loss of income. We are working hard behind the scenes to fundraise as well as provide options to explore the Cynon valley’s heritage, art, and culture, through projects such as this Residency. If you enjoyed this and would like to support us more, please consider making a donation. You can do so by following this link.
