Reclining Nude

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Fri, 10 Jul 2015
  • 1945 reads
10 comments
 
Suggestions of umber –
whisperings of Prussian Blue
and Chinese White – 
 
murmurings
of Madder Pink 
vie for her attention
from the floorboards...
 
an open skylight –
a torn, lace-curtain
shilly-shallies
with the breeze.
 
A young, black girl – draped  
on green baize settee;
 
an artist’s eye following
each line, every contour
leaving nowhere
unmapped, uncharted.
 
A black butterfly
drowning in a jar
of multi-coloured hues;
 
the one he used to rinse
his myriad of brushes,
lets out a scream,
heard by only 
 
she...cups it in her hands...
 
sets it free to the wind...
as it flies directly
back into the room
and lands, 
of all places,
 
on his wet-on-wet
creation...like a lamb
to the slaughter...
 
more, black-on-black...
 
belying the cliché 
freedom is a thing 
with wings.
 
The picture sells
for millions.
Certificate 12
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Philosophy
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Deliberately Ev... on

Great poem, full of such wonderful imagery and texture. Thanks for sharing this.

The beat of your heart is the mellifluent rhythm to my soul.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Ae...so pleased you thought so.smiley

 

Submitted by Denzella on

You paint a picture with words, Tina.  As usual I got much enjoyment from reading this latest piece and I can almost see the girl draped on the settee.  Perhaps you should send this to the Tate?  

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi again, dear Moya...and that might be an idea about the Tatesmiley  Actually, you reminded me of my first ever trip there with the school when I was about eight.  I was transfixed by all those wonderful paintings, especially the one of the Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse.  We were studying the poem by Tennyson at the time, and it really made the poem come alive for me.

So pleased you liked and were kind enough to tell me so.  Have a peaceful weekend.

Tina

 

Submitted by love_writing on

' a black butterfly drowning in a jar'  this is wonderfully visual and evocative, hooks me in making me want to know what happens next. Freedom gained then lost again- how tragic nature can be!

love_writing

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

'Freedom gained then lost again'...how well you sum up the ethos of the poem.  So very many thanks, lw.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

The visualisation of the young black girl draped over the green baize settee, gave this poem so much  texture.

That poor butterfly had no idea where it was flying, but the painter would make a fortune.

Wonderful and classical. Very much enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Jenny.  So pleased you enjoyed.smiley

Tina

 

Submitted by rayjones on

Such power packed into so few words, brilliant, Ray

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

My sincere thanks to you, Ray.

Tina