Working on a digital illustration for a job in Glyphix. We were given the task of illustrating a poem. The poems, were selected by the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University. Mine is by a man named Edward Tick (the author of War and the Soul, and is the founder of Soldier’s Heart which is a project to help soldiers with post traumatic stress).

This particular poem “Lullaby” comes from his book called “The Golden Tortoise” and is about going to Vietnam with veterans to help them heal. It is written in the traditional Japanese haibun poetry form. My poem is written in the voice of a Vietnamese woman:

Because you are far away, my son,

and I am an old woman alone

I listen in my quiet hours

to raindrops flicking lotus petals.

In this way, though you are gone, the patter

of your tiny feet fills my empty home.

My illustration isn’t complete yet. Taking from the poem the lotus, I decided to give my illustration a traditional look with my own take on Edwards use of Japanese culture, Vietnamese Dong Ho Illustration techniques.

Eventually the illustration will be combined with the poem on a poster, card and horizontal formatted poster. It will be sold online (link later) and also will be able to be found on buses throughout the PARTA transportation system along with others done by the rest of Glyphix’s current staff.