I'm trying something new, taking a risk this month - participating in
#VerseLove with Sarah Donovan,
hoping to write poetry every day this April.
Today's poetic challenge is to write an "ekphrastic poem," which is one that originates with a piece of art or photograph, providing a creative description or imagining of the scene itself. We were given several photos as a starting point, and invited to open up our senses and write!
I chose this photo:
Girls' playground, Harriet Island, St. Paul, Minn.
- Digital ID: (digital file from original) det 4a12326 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/det.4a12326
- Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-det-4a12326 (digital file from original)
- Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Grab the rings, soar in the sky,
Together, sisters, we play.
Waste no moment here outside,
My favorite time of day.
Dress and tights won’t hold me back,
With each swing, I feel the breeze.
Simply nothing that I lack,
Like a bird, I am so free.
I find it so confusing,
It doesn’t make sense to me.
You stopped running and doing,
Simply to goggle and preen?
Hold on tight, big swing, repeat,
My muscles will see me through.
Move the stepstool when I leap,
Then, I’ll do the same for you.
Grab the rings, soar in the sky,
Together, sisters, we play.
Waste no moment here outside,
My favorite time of day.
Margaret Simon, from Sarah Donovan's website -
ReplyDeleteI love the brackets of echoing stanzas here inviting me to play along.
gayle sands, from Sarah Donovan website -
ReplyDeleteHold on tight, big swing, repeat—love the image. And I like the speaker in your poem for her physicality and spunk.
Michelle Sheehan, from Sarah Donovan website
ReplyDeleteI loved the line “Waste no moment here outside” because it reminded me of the freedom of children at play and of being outside which is not always an option in the current conditions of our world. I also found this perspective interesting ad I chose the same poem and write form the perspective of the teacher t=rather than the girls.
glenda funk, from Sarah Donovan website
ReplyDeleteMaureen,
I enjoyed playing and soaring on the swing through your poem. The rhyme, repetition, and rhythm soars and makes me feel a little lighter, at least in my memories. Also, love the carpe diem theme in “Waste no moment here outside.” Thank you.
—glenda
I love the image of soaring in the sky without regard to dress and tights. Gosh do I remember having to do EVERYTHING in a dress. Your words are a testament to our soaring regardless. I am intrigued that you mentioned the image of the step stool and moving it aside for one another. This weaved in the teamwork of children and the necessity if one is to soar.
ReplyDelete