How A Little Artistic Collage Came to Be
My late husband and I, the co-authors and compilers, created A Little Artistic Collage to celebrate Jindrich’s 97th birthday. This would be a special milestone for anyone, and in this case certainly was so considering the unexpected health challenges and multiple hospital stays that Jindrich had experienced in the first half of 2019.
A truism is aptly expressed by these words: “Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow). We journeyed with Jindrich as he was assailed more than once by a serious urinary tract infection (UTI). Alongside this and other health issues, the prescribed medications regrettably added to the havoc that the UTI was causing to his mind and body. With the UTI diagnosis, a sizable and spiky urinary tract stone was discovered. The doctors recommended to have it surgically removed. All this was understandably physically and mentally challenging.
After three months of in-and-out hospital stays, Jindrich began recovering. He remained in his own home till his passing away in September 2022, and took care of most of his basic needs, in some cases with assistance from others.
After his trying months of 2019, we were glad to see Jindrich return to doing artwork, writing a few poems, and taking photos in his garden with his iPhone camera.
We decided to produce this small book, for him to rejoice in his recovery. And so, A Little Artistic Collage was born and had been intended to capture and celebrate Jindrich’s creativity as he was heading to his 97th birthday.
In the book, Jindrich’s artwork from past years, his more recent poetic expression (in Czech and English), as well as a few of our previously unpublished poems are arranged into five sections as follows:
“Such is the Life”
Whatever the Weather
New Year’s Wishes and Aspirations
From Morning to Night
Pictures at the Exhibition
Where to Get It
The book is presently available only as a PDF and is downloadable at A Little Artistic Collage.
To read some other of Jindrich (Henry’s) Czech poetry, visit his website. See also Contemporary Verse and Free Verse both composed by Jindrich Degen, which can be purchased as paperbacks, as can his art books.
