I enjoy being creative. I actually need it and try to incorporate creativity in anything I do. Once upon a time I wanted to major in art history. I painted, attended and monitored art classes and volunteered for several years working with a gallery curator. I still love art and poetry. Why did I choose not to pursue art history? Well, let us say I needed to think about how I will repay my student loans. Seriously, the truth is I discovered my love of geography and the environment. I see art and poetry in both as well as the potential to contribute solutions to world problems and to help others.
These poems are selections from a collection I call: Love Poems for Geographers. I wrote some of these poems as a way of recalling what I learned in my geography classes. They are always fun to write. Unfortunately, I have not done anything similar in my PhD program. I will work on this. The urban is full of inspiration.
Oil on canvasby Latoya A. Jones
Title: The Hypocenter of Little Girl Hex
This painting was done in 2007. I was in an old bookstore when I came across a book on the history of ciphers; codes. I flipped to a chapter on Mary Queen of Scots which told the story of how she communicated using a code, albeit weak, in what is referred to as The Babington Plot, which was eventually decoded and lead to her beheading. The cipher along the dark clouds is used in this painting deciphered reads: Total destruction is not theonly solution. Peace on earth already! At the time, I was still reflecting on 9/11, the subsequent war in Iraq we were engaged in (which spanned 2003-2011) and I began to wonder if total destruction is the only solution? The chemical structure written on the back of her dress is for Uranium Hexafluoride which was used to develop the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during WWII which was nicknamed Little Boy. The idea of giving a nickname to a bomb diminishes the death and disaster it will certainly bring. The chemical structure on her head is for acetaminophen, symbolizing the relief I was seeking from a headache, pain, mental anguish I was feeling from the violence and suffering wars perpetuates. The world is at war or in conflict. Now I wonder if peace has become passé and if we are becoming blasé about war.
The chemical structure on her head is for acetaminophen.
The chemical structure written on the back of her dress is for Uranium Hexafluoride (also known as Hex) The cipher is used in this painting deciphered reads: Total destruction is not the only solution. Please on earth already! The chemical structure on her head is for acetaminophen.
Where does the fire go?
Where does the fire go?
The fire that fuels us
In our youth.
The uncompromising fire!
Where does the fire go?
Down? Into the ground
To warm the hole for us?
The fire that made us burn
With desire and raaaage
The i’ll live forever fire!
Where does the fire go?
Up? Into the sky to be
The light that calls us?
The fire that blinded us
From fear. No fear.
The idontgiveaf— fire!
Where does the fire go?
In? Into the ocean
To ready the storm?
The fire with passion
As its fashion
The take all of me fire!
Where does the fire go?
Does it burn out?
Into smoke sending
An S.O.S?
I see smoke, but no fire.
Ashes, no heat
Let there be light
Let there be light
let you be lit by it
the light in my eyes
let it bathe you
the light you see
Is all my positive energy
I’ve been touched
by you
and now I am positively
charged
let it shine
let it shine
this love of mine
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