Colors and pigments, hues of blues, oh my!

There was just enough rain last night to freshen the countryside this morning. It looks all clean. Skies seem to be clearing from the west where the skies are mostly blue, easterly, not so much. If the skies were entirely blue, they might be one or more of these three hues:

• Blue Ashes:       Definition     Images
• Blue Bice:          Definition     Images
• Blue Verditer:    Definition     Images

blue skies, blue water, blue hues

Photo by J. Harrington

To my recollection, I had never encountered any of today's blue hue names before finding them in the Book of Color. I'm also starting to belatedly put a few more pieces of the color puzzle together. For example, biomimicry is helping develop better solar panels by shedding light on how butterfly wings look blue without using blue pigments. Biomimicry also may be a source of solutions to some of Anthropogenic Climate Disruption's other drivers. It seems to me that we need to develop an attitude of reciprocity rather than exploitation toward earth. Biomimicry is one way to get there. Learning and following Original Instructions is another.

In case you missed it, Minnesota's first poet laureate, Robert Bly, has a new book available, Like the New Moon I Will Live My Life. The cover is mostly blue of different hues.

Under the heading of better late than never, here, directly from the Academy of American Poets, are:

30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month

1. Order a free National Poetry Month poster and display it at work or school.
2. Sign up for Poem-a-Day and read a poem each morning.
3. Deepen your daily experience by reading Edward Hirsch’s essay “How to Read a Poem.”
4. Memorize a poem.
5. Create an anthology of your favorite poems on Poets.org.
6. Encourage a young person to participate in the Dear Poet project.
7. Buy a book of poetry from your local bookstore.
8. Review these concrete examples of how poetry matters in the United States today.
9. Learn more about poets and poetry events in your state.
10. Ask your governor or mayor for a proclamation in support of National Poetry Month.
11. Attend a poetry reading at a local university, bookstore, cafe, or library.
12. Read a poem at an open mic. It’s a great way to meet other writers in your area and find out about your local poetry writing community.
13. Start a poetry reading group.
14. Write an exquisite corpse poem with friends.
15. Chalk a poem on the sidewalk.
16. Write a letter to a poet thanking them for their work.
17. Ask the United States Post Office to issue more stamps celebrating poets.
18. Recreate a poet’s favorite food or drink by following his or her recipe.
19. Read about different poetic forms.
20. Read about poems titled “poem.”
21. Read the first chapter of Muriel Rukeyer’s inspiring book, The Life of Poetry.
22. Subscribe to American Poets magazine or a small press poetry journal.
23. Watch Rachel Eliza Griffiths' latest Poets on Poetry video.
24. Watch or read Carolyn Forche’s talk “Not Persuasion, But Transport: The Poetry of Witness.”
25. Read or listen to Mark Doty’s talk “Tide of Voices: Why Poetry Matters Now.”
26. Read Allen Ginsberg’s classic essay about Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.”
27. Watch a poetry movie.
28. Sign up for a poetry class or workshop.
29. Get ready for Mother’s Day by making a card featuring a line of poetry.
30. Celebrate National Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30, 2015. The idea is simple: select a poem you love, carry it with you, then share it with coworkers, family, and friends.

and, number 31, of course, would be to read My Minnesota each day in April.

Finally, we send our prayers, best wishes and songs of hope for a speedy recovery to Joni Mitchell. We're encouraged she is reported to be doing well in the hospital. She gave us yet another view of blue.

Blue

by Joni Mitchell  

Blue songs are like tattoos
You know I've been to sea before
Crown and anchor me
Or let me sail away
Hey Blue, here is a song for you
Ink on a pin
Underneath the skin
An empty space to fill in
Well there're so many sinking now
You've got to keep thinking
You can make it thru these waves
Acid, booze, and ass
Needles, guns, and grass
Lots of laughs lots of laughs
Everybody's saying that hell's the hippest way to go
Well I don't think so
But I'm gonna take a look around it though
Blue I love you

Blue here is a shell for you
Inside you'll hear a sigh
A foggy lullaby
There is your song from me


© 1970; Joni Mitchell


********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.