Violets
Tamworth, New Hampshire
8 June 1997
Watercolor on hot press Lana paper
6 x 4", archival mat & backing to 10 x 8"
US $195 (includes USPS Priority Shipping)
Email me to purchase
Surrounded by nature, almost always within sight of Mount Chocorua, I fell in love with Tamworth, New Hampshire where the heavens shone clear at night. Unfortunately, the living situation there turned out to be impossible and it was just as well that I worked on tour during most of that time. I traveled for what I thought would have been the snow season but returned in March just in time for several feet. On April 1st, I left Boston as a few flakes were falling and arrived in Tamworth, driving 2 mph up the Chinook Trail in full white out conditions. I was never so relieved to pull into a garage. I learned to love the snow and even discovered an untapped passion for shoveling!
Spring came very late and, when the violets finally popped up, I put a few aside after weeding for this painting.
The song I wrote that winter (with a nod to P.B. Shelley and Conrad Aiken) captures an essence of my Tamworth experience.
West Wind
West Wind sang September night
accompanied by the leaves in flight
stirred the birches with a solemn rub
teased the clouds across the moon above
Caught me in its fragrant air
stung my eyes, played with my hair
brought the first frost of the year
Winter is near
Winter is near
I listened to the lyrics of the song
the words were clear and the meaning strong
In darkness they declared the mighty rule
no thing would dare to fight
The garden could not disobey
the warm air, the birds flew away
the hunters killed all that remained
The weather changed
The weather changed
Silent snow descends and comforts the cold, hard ground
Secret snow encircles me with an oath unbound
A fist of gust against my face
pushed me into the saddest place
across the freezing season line
and there a voice roared through my mind
“Take me in like I am your breath
Like I am your lover, like I am your death
I will instruct and you will learn
The lessons are hard but worthy to earn
I will teach you to stand alone
How to walk tall with a strong backbone
How to greet your enemy on the road
How to heal your weakness and atone”
Silent snow descends and comforts the cold, hard ground
Secret snow encircles me with an oath unbound
I built a snow girl in the wilderness
I formed and smoothed the icy mess
Up to my knees in a creamy drift
I stood alone in the flaky mist
And I stood alone in my little life
and all I could see was white on white
and all I could hear was the singing wind
bitter cold but my closest friend
Silent snow descends and comforts the cold, hard ground
Secret snow encircles me with an oath unbound
Spring shall come again
Spring shall come again
©1997 Suzanne McDermott/Drexel Road Music (ASCAP) (STIM)
All Rights Reserved
Every Sunday I post a new painting and story behind the watercolors I made while touring as a singer songwriter. Follow the stories behind the paintings of these serialized posts by working your way up from the bottom.
