Skillman & Turney — May 2026

Rachel Turney and Judith Skillman traded art and words. Judith shared this image, titled “Yellow Lake,” with Rachel:

In response, Rachel wrote this poem:

Aspen Stand Lament

I hold my dreams of aspen families
against my memories of your supple voice.
I am grieving sonorous bellows,
sound waves that no longer move the air.

What is childhood, and love, and loss,
and ache?

I woke in Friedrichshain and walked
all the way to Mitte, stopping for coffee
three times to warm me and brush away
the foggy atmosphere.

Doves sit on the ledge of the building
as I peer up at the expansiveness
of where you used to inhabit.
Used to. Used to. Used to.

* * * * *

Rachel shared this poem with Judith:

Money Plant 

My grin is a flock of geese v – ing through the sky in bluster and noise. 
My body is slowly turning to moss, my toes are already sinking 
into the ground and developing a root structure. 

My belly and breasts graze the swollen nimbostratus. 
I am part of the unmovable landscape here. 

Face towards the west sinking sun, I crave the longer days that are promised. 
Admiring bonsais and arborsculptures in the communal garden and then 
returning home to mistreat my own braided money tree, gives me a sense 
of time passing and purpose.

In response, Judith made this image, titled “After Money Plant by Rachel Turney”: