"Nine for a Kiss"

From the ninth line of the magpie rhyme (read below), the birds bring a kiss. Groups of three magpies come together as if to kiss, linked together by twine.

18"x14"x1.5"

Graphite, colored pencil, clippings from antique sheet music "My Valentine", acrylic on birch panel

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Having broken down the magpie rhyme "One for Sorrow" into a series of ten pieces, I focus on the attribution of fate and chance to Nature. According to the superstition of the magpie poem, dating back to late-1700s Britain, the number of magpie birds seen tells if one will have bad or good fortune: 

One for sorrow Two for joy Three for a girl Four for a boy Five for silver Six for gold Seven for a secret, never to be told Eight for a wish Nine for a kiss Ten for a bird you must not miss