Waiting For The Flash

By skinner_jennifer

Sun, 25 Jun 2017
  • 3550 reads
14 comments
 

I wasn't sure if a photo could express

Ekphrastic poetry, but decided to have

a go and see if it worked.

 

 

 

Childhood is such a mystery to me,

speculates the man behind the lens:

gesturing signals hoping for a pose,

that image portrayed in his mind.

 

How do I proceed at my youthful age?

I'm trying my hardest – I wonder is he

troubled? His energy is all around...

apologies for not doing my best sir,

 

It doesn't make sense but I'll be civil,

stand proud like the captain of a ship;

well groomed and positioned casually,

ready, able to take on any job at hand,

 

when I become an adult, maybe! Just

maybe I'll voyage across white capped

waves – feel those sailors passions,

saluting an ocean of risky adventures,

 

for all one knows I might be compelled to

drape nets, trawling for fish, body flexible,

strong and muscular, a fitting job for a future

man, restless and eager to carve out his career,

 

Breathing deeply in acute visions,

for now I'll just settle for complying;

stance upright, but not presumptuous,

just an ordinary boy waiting for the flash.

 

The Photo is of my Granddad when he was ten.

Certificate U
Biography
Poems
Biography
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

What a fabulous photo - and your poem is so thought-provoking.  I wonder what the subject did do.

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Helen,

thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts.

The photo is of my Granddad when he was ten. 

I had this image of him and his thoughts in the photo. He never did go to sea, or become a fisherman, but he was a man I looked up to. Sadly he passed away when I was young, so I only got to know him for a short time.

Again thank you for reading.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by hedgehog1 on

I have dabbled with "Ekphrastic" poetry on several occasions in the past few months.

Looking at the picture and the essence of your poem you are spot on with your words.

Congratulations on a job well done.

Edward

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It is interesting to speculate about people we see in a photograph, isn't it? or what was happening before and after the time it was taken.

I remember my mother looking at some old photos of herself where she looked so sweet, and saying, matter-of-factedly that she could remember quarelling with her sister(s) just before about who sat where, or somesuch, and that in another, I think that she remembered sticking out the new boots that she was so proud of to show them off!

Also that first verse of yours indicates the efforts photographers go to to put children at ease, often very successfully - and in the days of your photograph, the taking of the photo took some time I think, and often resulted in rather 'fixed' expressions, so he would have been trying to keep the child relaxed and natural! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

yes you're right, photos in those days had to be taken like a portrait would have been painted, the camera man would have been quite strict about stance and expression. I also think my granddad had quite a strict upbringing, mainly because of the way he came across with his grandchildren. There were times when he would not want us around, or not speaking at the meal table, but when he was in a playful mood, I remember him down on all fours, giving the grandchildren rides like a horse, or taking me down his allotment to help him, he would bury sixpence or thrupenny bits in the ground, so that we would be more inclined to help him dig, I remember making a small fortune for a seven year old.

I wasn't sure if this would be right for the Ekphrastic poetry, but thought the photo seemed like a portrait painting of the era, so I'm very happy that you liked it enough to let me know.

Always grateful for your thoughts Rhiannon.

Many thanks.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi there Edward,

thank you for letting me know I was on the right track. I've never heard of this kind of writing before, so was a bit unsure. Glad you thought the writing went with the picture and appreciate you letting me know.

Thank you again.

Jenny. smiley 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Jenny,
An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. A photograph, especially an old one, could also be likened to a painting insofar as it was posed, the subject being the model of the portrait. The interpretation doesn't have to refer to a personal event but describe an alternative episode to the one depicted in the image.
You have woven an interesting and enjoyable story around your granddad's picture. Well done.

Luigi xx

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Luigi,

I'm grateful for your feedback on this subject. It's always good to have help when I'm not sure whether I'm getting it right.

Thank you for reading and taking the time to let me know your thoughts, always appreciated.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Great poem. I thought till I reached the end that the photo was of you!

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Elsie,

No! The photo definitely isn't of me,

it's my Grandad when he was about ten. I suppose the long hair made you think it was me, I don't know if he was wearing a wig, or if it was his real hair, but I thought he looked handsom in the photo...but then I'm biased with him being my Granddad.

Thank you for reading and commenting.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Jenny

I like the idea of you speculating about what the boy was thinking and what his future might have held. I can remember early photographs of me and my sister - taken at a commercial photographers. And the fact that I look scared and unhappy in the photo reflects that I wasn't in the best of moods. It's interesting that my parents chose that photo, out of no doubt a selection. But maybe they felt it was a fair reflection of my personality.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jean,

in those days I think parents had a big influence in what went on with a photograph. I know for a fact that from my own experience with my Granddad, children were seen and not heard, apart from when it suited the parents.

I did like the way Granddad was dressed, and I think he looks pretty contented to pose in the photo.

I think when we're young it's an effort to smile when we're not in the best of moods. It's always so much easier when we get older.

It was interesting to read your comment and thank you for sharing.

Appreciate the read.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by celticman on

the photo doesn't look like a boy (your grandad) but enjoyed the way you tunnelled back into the past./ 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jack,

I'm not sure of the date that photo was taken, but I think he would have been dressed in old victorian clothes for the photo and I'm almost sure that he's wearing a wig.

Glad you enjoyed my poem and thank you for letting me know.

Jenny.