Daniel Mark Picture Poems Inc. is a mid-life crisis come to life!
Words and pictures, together, making their own kind of music.

Years ago I wrote a poem for my wife on the eve of our wedding.
It was called “How Could We Have Ever Known?”

We asked a friend to read it in the ceremony.  He did a great job.
We put the poem with our wedding picture.

We later had the poem etched onto matting.
It was beautiful!

People started asking me to write something for their event or celebration.

Thus was born Daniel Mark Picture Poems, Inc.

People seem to run from words
that work in measured time,
unless of course a guitar twangs,
laid on top of drummer’s bangs,
and voices rise in unison,
ending lines in rhyme.

Then they stand with hands upraised,
waving with the rhythm,
grasping notes in pulsing air,
eyes transfixed in forward stare,
as if the singer on the stage
can lead them to a promised land
if they could go with him.

My words are but a whisper;
there is no screaming throng.
They do not seek crescendo
and urge no one to follow,
but ask you now to slow your mind
to linger over simple words,
to hear a tuneless song.

This is a quiet calling,
that seeks no awe-struck crowd,
but tries to make connection
through sober introspection,
urging minds to quiet place
where thoughts and dreams dance silently,
and slip from saffron shroud.

Now there are many poems, on many subjects, covering many of life’s events: the birth of a child, graduations, love, weddings, pets, memorials, friendship, home, sports, accomplishments. Some favorite pieces have been commissioned pieces. One man asked us to write something for his wife who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. It was entitled “An Orchid for Gloria” and focused on their married life of many years, and her love of growing beautiful orchids. Another young man asked us to write a tribute for his father who died over 25 years ago. His father was a WWII veteran, a restaurant owner and an avid fisherman. We put copies of three old photos of his father into the finished piece, all double matted in gold against a rich, dark brown background, along with an original poem entitled “The Eyes of My Father.”  It proudly hangs in his home right now.

We like to think that both “An Orchid for Gloria” and “The Eyes of My Father” are heirlooms and will be passed on to the next generation to hang proudly in another generation’s family room or photo gallery.  In fact, all of the pieces are intended to be heirlooms–a proud and unique place for your photographs!

All of the poems are intended to be part of a presentation with your photo,
or that of someone close to you,
to celebrate, to contemplate, to remember, to commemorate.
A gift for forever.

Two Arts Together: A Beautiful Vision Etched on the Mind.

I hope you enjoy my crisis as much as I do!

Daniel Mark Extrom
April 2010