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Friday, February 03, 2023

SAXON HENRY

Author | Journalist | Content Strategist | The Modern Salonnière
SAXON HENRY
Author | Journalist | Content Strategist | The Modern Salonnière
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Tag: poetry

Writing is my brain but poetry is my heart. I not only love to read it; I am relieved when I have the space in my life to write it.

A number of diary entries on The Diary of an Improvateur contain poetry, some written by others and some written by me. I’ll share an example of a post that includes one of my poems in case that entices you to stop by my blog and click on the poetry tag to see others. In the post, titled “God’s Articulate Finger,” I shared “Art:History” from Anywhere But Here, my first book of poetry published this year by Sharktooth Press. I was inspired to write the poem after studying the Sistine Chapel vault and the The Last Judgment, both envisioned and produced by Michelangelo.

The idea for the poem came to me when I saw how differently Adam and Eve are perceived in the ceiling frescoes—God’s articulate finger pointing to Adam as the chosen one a sign. I weave into the post anecdotes about Michelangelo’s life from The Letters of Michelangelo edited by E.H. Ramsden. It’s a slipcovered two-volume set—volume one covering 1496 to 1534 (which includes the four years he worked on the vaulted ceiling) and volume two highlighting the six years he was struggling to realize the altar wall.

Proving that he didn’t believe himself worthy of painting the elaborate project, Michelangelo told his father that the Pope had not paid him for the work on the Sistine Chapel in a timely manner but perhaps it was apropos: “I am still in a great quandary, because it is now a year since I had a grosso from this Pope and I do not ask for anything because my work does not seem to me to go ahead in a way to merit it. This is due to the difficulty of the work and also because it is not my profession. In consequence, I lose my time fruitlessly. May God help me.” I hope you’ll stop by the blog and read my poem inspired by his remarkable work. It’s one of my favorites.

Milan Duomo
Creative Writing Literature Travel

Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan

Saxon Henry February 10, 2022 books of letterscathedrals to exploreDante Alighierifamous writersItalypoetryRome

This essay channeling Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan is included in my book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature similar literary…

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Petrarch's former residence in Italy
Books Creative Writing Literature

Treasures According to Petrarch

Saxon Henry July 20, 2021 Beinecke LibraryDante Alighierifamous writerslibrariesMedieval TimesPetrarchphilosopherspoetryRenaissance

This essay defining what Petrarch saw as treasures is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature…

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A detail from Francesco Melzi’s “Leda and the Swan” housed in the Uffizi Gallery.
Art Mythology Travel

Debating Da Vinci in Milan

Saxon Henry October 10, 2020 grand residencesGreek deitiesItalykeeping diariespainterspoetry

This essay exploring the genius of Leonardo da Vinci in Milan is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in…

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“The Funeral of Shelley” by Louis Édouard Fournier (1889); pictured in the centre are, from left, Trelawny, Hunt, and Byron.
Books Creative Writing Interior Design

Leigh Hunt Avid Decorator

Saxon Henry August 24, 2020 British poetsEnglandfamous writersGreat BritainLondonnobilitynonfiction writerspoetrysalonnieresummer reading list

This essay about the decorating exploits of Leigh Hunt is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the…

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Jim Morrison of the Doors
Books Cultural Explorations Travel

Jim Morrison Irreverent Scribe

Saxon Henry July 20, 2020 FranceParispoetryThe Literary Adventurer

This essay exploring Arthur Rimbaud’s influence on Jim Morrison is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book…

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Welsh Poet Thomas in nature
Books Creative Writing Literature

Dylan Thomas in America

Saxon Henry July 14, 2020 authenticityfamous writersNew York Citypoetrypopular moviessummer reading list

This essay exploring the downward spiral of Dylan Thomas during tours of America is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other…

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Books Literature Travel

The Train Leading to Millay

Saxon Henry July 7, 2020 American poetsBeinecke Librarybooks of lettersNew York Citypoetrysummer reading list

This essay following Edna St. Vincent Millay to Croton-on-Hudson by train is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in…

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Edgar Allan Poe
Creative Writing Literature Travel

It All Leads Back to Poe

Saxon Henry June 5, 2020 American poetsauthenticityfamous writerslibrariesNew York Citynovelistspoetrysummer reading list

This essay highlighting the influence that Edgar Allan Poe had on American literature is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other…

View More It All Leads Back to Poe
Aubrey Beardsley
Art Cultural Explorations Literature Travel

A Decadently Yellow London

Saxon Henry May 22, 2020 British poetsEnglandEzra Poundfamous writersLondonnonfiction writerspoetry

This essay channeling the Decadents and Aesthetes in London when it was decadently yellow is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34…

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Emily Dickinson, the most famous resident of Amherst.
Cultural Explorations Literature Travel

Anguished in Amherst

Saxon Henry April 4, 2020 American poetspoetryThe Literary Adventurer

This essay channeling Emily Dickinson in Amherst is included in my new book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature similar…

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