Paul Whitener (1911-1959) Unfinished Landscape, @1950, Oil
The window on the next wall warms up with a
child’s glee
My lips curved up in a smile so
easy and free
I tried to scoop up a bit of
glee to test it on a canvas anew
Just across the road, only aged
people at the window, looking so lone
Two old souls waiting at the
window like an age old portrait on a wall
While may-noon sun quickly
dries up all my laundry in minutes
I tried to put some dry paints
on the canvas with contrasting hues
Before me, the window that I
opened has a painting so old
It has a warm, light shade of
red above a close-to-skin like shade of green
The scenes and hues around me
smeared on my palms, giving greasy feel
And the greasy feel creeps all
over the flesh, the soul inside wriggles in pain
There is a truth that floats
across the scenes, urging to wake up and begin
The becoming warmth of this unfinished
painting
Why do the brush strokes speak
to you in volumes
There is a lengthy bridge
between these feelings and the world of news
The news from around the world
through media men’s eyes
We live between parallel truths
and dreams, the widening gap so adverse
I won’t chisel out or trim up this
poem, let it be odd or raw or worst
Let it not be designed to match
with the tastes or favours
Let the canvas be roughly
textured like a mountain path up
I would like to go wandering
into the mountains and insights
Let the forest grow thick and
dark and spare no made-up lights here
Visit IGWRT for Artistic Interpretations with Margaret - Small
Town Inspiration...and Poets United for Poets United Midweek Motif ~ News Media
I like this line 'There is a truth that floats across the scene'
ReplyDelete"We live between parallel truths and dreams, the widening gap so averse
ReplyDeleteI won’t chisel out or trim up this poem"
Yes, so it is and the entire poem captures that, impressionistic like the painting, and red with blood. "Let it be Rough," indeed. Wow. I love this!
The poem is crude and rough with the truth of a housewife confined in the four walls and who has limited access to the outside world. Beautifully written!
ReplyDeleteIt is as though the narrator is pent up, trapped, frustrated almost with their life yet appears to be young mother at home wondering why and was this the life that she always dreamed about?
ReplyDeleteA wonderful raw write of angst and anger and imprisonment by society and culture. A @beautifully written@ from me too.
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
Let the canvas be roughly textured like a mountain path up
ReplyDeleteI would like to go wandering into the mountains and insights
Let the forest grow thick and dark and spare no made-up lights here
This is soo beautifully deep and wise ❤️
The lines Sanaa mentions are my favorite as well. "...to go wandering into the mountains and insights..." beautiful
ReplyDelete"We live between parallel truths and dreams," Yes we do, and a poem needs no chiseling nor trimming. A well-written piece, like very much the unapologetic tone!
ReplyDeleteLuv how you wandered through this canvas, "chiselling" your words in the process.
ReplyDeleteMuch love...
I like the way you convey your scene with paint and word, Sreeja, especially in the lines:
ReplyDelete'While may-noon sun quickly dries up all my laundry in minutes
I tried to put some dry paints on the canvas with contrasting hues'.
"Let it not be designed to match with the tastes or favours" Very intriguing that and it matches with the "voice' of the poet here.
ReplyDeleteA marvel of thoughts and wanderings brought to life. Into windows for reflection.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a tour de force! 'We live between parallel truths and dreams', in particular, struck a chord with me.
ReplyDeleteFun phrase: "I won’t chisel out or trim up this poem"
ReplyDeleteLove how you compare the painting to your words... we are indeed artists painting with words...
ReplyDeleteI like "there is a truth the floats across the scenes....urging to wake up."
ReplyDeleteThank you all...!
ReplyDeleteWell written. I like the "we live between parallel truths and dreams".
ReplyDeleteTrying to paint oneself out of societal restraints is a harsh task at times. I feel the struggle, but also feel strength beginning to enter her paintbrush. Beautiful
ReplyDelete"We live between parallel truths and dreams, the widening gap so adverse.." Yes, the widening gap is alarming! The precious credibility of journalism is at stake today...it’s impossible for most reporters to follow anything if it has to do with actual truth! Sigh...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece...
Thank you so much!
ReplyDelete