It’s been a week now since my paintings were the subject of a poetry challenge on the website, Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.

I was intrigued by the website name of this community of 20 poets until I realised that the members of the group are referred to as the toads (although I’m still not entirely sure why).

Being selected as a muse for the group was a strangely humbling experience. The poetry challenge was live for one week.  I’m thrilled and honoured to have been invited. There really wasn’t anything for me to do. Group representative, Mary Grace Guevara really did it all. From making contact to ask whether I was up for having my images used as inspiration, to getting the post done and keeping me in the loop, she was the epitome of efficiency.

Over the course of the week I dipped in from time to time to read emerging works. I’m conscious that my images evoke words beyond the capabilities of my imagination. And I am grateful to the toads for their creativity and wordcraft.

The entries in the poetry challenge are listed at the bottom of their website.

I’ve also added them here under the paintings selected by each particular poet.

• Grace – Dividing Time
• Fireblossom – Spring Forward
• Manic Daily – Flicked Off

• Brendan – Mother of All Storms

• Bjorn – A Praise to Roots Below
• Humbird – What lies beneath
• Grapeling – What lies beneath
• Poet Laundry – Treescape

• Hedgewitch – Sleepsong of Poppies

• Coal Black – Red Shoes

• Mama Zen – The Constant Lover
• Hannah – Found of Mountains

• Kerry – At the Crossroad

• Lolamouse – Dark Pleasure

• De Jackson – Upside-down World, Swirled

I’m beyond thrilled that so many poems have been written about my paintings. Thank you to the Real Toads for adding a new dimension to my work with their poetry challenge.