Cover Art by Dalphna Donnelly
“Dive into the kaleidoscopic world of "Secret Names: Philosophy in Crayon" by Carole Johnston, where colors don't just exist but tell tales, and crayons whisper secrets.
In this enchanting chapbook, Johnston invites you to embrace the extraordinary journey of naming the unnamed. Each poem is a brushstroke, painting a canvas of emotions, seasons, and moments, revealing the profound philosophy hidden within the wax and pigment.
With a vivid palette of words, Johnston turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, leaving you inspired to discover the poetry in your own box of crayons.
"Secret Names" is not just a collection; it's a celebration of the magic that happens when imagination and language collide.”
— Alien Budda
Excerpts:
it's a redbud riot
"Wild Rumpus" crayon
hooligan spring
cracks a dragon egg
inside me
April is
a jade green dragon
crayon named
"Meander" she wanders
the buttercup sky
"Gull's Voice"
is my "Sea Blue" crayon
when will I
live by the shore again?
Buddha eyes on horizon
Holy Land burning
crayons called "Bombs Exploding"
"Flaming Sand"
colors of bleeding corpses
hues of horror and pain
in a sketchbook
crayons called "Riot" and "Death"
broad waxy strokes
of "Smoke" and "Charred Ruins"
too much crimson and black
a crayon called
"Grandmother Frog Pond"
"Moon Mother" "Goddess
of Green and Grey"
whispers secrets to the sky
Dalphna Donnelly is best known in Central Kentucky as a passionate art missionary and guide. Earning her Masters of Fine Arts in Painting from UK in 1981, she has shared her excitement for creating with thousands across the Commonwealth. Since 2010 she's embraced her dream of painting full-time. The same passion, dedication and energy formerly devoted to nurturing others' creativity is now expressed in the brilliant, joy-filled color dances of her own canvases. A deeply spiritual person who glories in the wonders and beauty of our lives and world.
Carole & Dalphna at their collaborative art opening