"One Hundred Percent" poem by Cristina M. R. Norcross / video remix by Othniel Smith

Several of my previously published poems are now available on The Poetry Storehouse site.  This is an innovative, online, collective movement, encouraging cross-pollination of the arts, so that poems, music and film can have a greater impact on our creative culture.   All genres of the arts are connected.  When we inspire one another, we bring our art forms to a higher level.   

I am honored that two of my poems have been chosen, so far, by filmmakers (Marie Craven / "The Red Drum" and Othniel Smith / "One Hundred Percent") to create short, video remixes.  The latest online creation is a film by Othniel Smith, available to view on Vimeo.  "One Hundred Percent" originally appeared in the print journal, Verse Wisconsin.

Please visit the VIMEO site to watch the video remix of "One Hundred Percent" by Othniel Smith.  Many thanks to Othniel for creating this moving, visual accompaniment to my poem.  Seeing the many different faces of society, allows us to understand, on an even deeper lever, that we are all ONE.  When we see ourselves in others, we connect with our shared humanity and develop compassion for all people. 

One Hundred Percent

You are more than a statistic.
You are blood and bone.
You are purpose and spear.
You are part of a symbiotic whole –
an organism
that moves together,
grows together,
strives together
and thrives together.

You are a person,
not a ruffled piece of paper.
There is no refuting
your truth,
your beauty,
your authentic walk to grace.
You are here

because we are all here –
reaching for
a book on the shelf,
a roast chicken on the table,
the prescription for an ailing heart.

You are part of the 100 percent.
We are not divided.


Cristina M. R. Norcross

Published in Verse Wisconsin October/2013

"The Red Drum" on Vimeo (poetry by Cristina M. R. Norcross, video remix by Marie Craven)

Thrilled to have one of my poems used as inspiration for a short film on Vimeo!  What a great way to kick off 2015, with a mixing and melding of artistic genres.  Click on the link below to view the film version of my poem, "The Red Drum."


"The Red Drum" on Vimeo


(Video remix by Marie Craven, music by Dementio13, writing and voice sourced from The Poetry Storehouse.) 

To order a copy of  The Red Drum: Selected and New Poems visit:
Amazon
Signed copies on Etsy

 

The Red Drum

(Inspired by the writing of Stanley Kunitz)

Your heart – a red drum.

Taut leather bound

to the infinite shape of a circle,

seeks the music of other beating hearts.

Sound changes,

when a strong wind blows,

when the leather is rain-soaked,

when the sun makes the circle

jump into the light.

“I made this,”

says the drum.

Dreams take shape in the air,

with each, bellowing note.

“Now change it by living,”

says the drum’s stick.

Sing a new song.

“Truth –

Of thee I sing.”

Many more layers of change

bring syncopated rhythms,

ballads of longing,

and newly discovered voices.

Your heart is a red drum –

now crimson with passion,

tomorrow the sun makes it pink –

a tender, summer rose.

Sing your transformation to the world.

Beat the drum.

Beat the drum.

Beat the drum.

Published in The Red Drum: Selected and New Poems (Lone Gull Press, 2013)

Audio file and video remix available at The Poetry Storehouse