Recessed window’s wide ledge
holds spirits for drinker’s escape.
Time out desperately needed
from hatred, tyranny,
spewed vindictiveness,
misogyny, racism, and lies.
Broad brushstrokes have not,
cannot hide, underlying malevolence.
Clean canvass craved,
painted in meaningful hues.
Foundation layer of iridescent justice.
Calm cerulean waters
governed by tides of crimsoned love.
Emerald-kindness speckled shores of honesty.
Sun-flowered happiness rollicking
beneath cobalt cloudless skies.
Is there a bard to create this script?
A Dali, Miro, or Kahlo
to produce this surrealism?
Who among us
will ensure it becomes reality?
Human dignity bathed in light,
tinted with opalescent caring,
glowing in a patina of hope.
Written for dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Today I’m hosting Open Link Night where folks are invited to post any one poem of their choice, no form, rhyme scheme etc. required OR use Van Gogh’s painting, Studio Window, to motivate their creative juices.
AND you are invited to join us LIVE (with audio and video), on Saturday, March 16th from 10 to 11 AM New York time. Simply click here, and then click on the link you’ll find for dVerse LIVE. You’re invited to read a poem of your choosing, or simply come sit in and listen. Drop in for a few minutes or come and stay the hour. Although we’re an international group, all readings and conversations are in English. We’ve had folks from Sweden, the UK, Trinidad Tobago, Finland, Pakistan, the US, Kenya, Australia, and India. I do hope you’ll join us – the more the merrier!
lillian the home poet 
Love what the hope, if only surrealism could be real… but humans seem to be closest to themselves (I think I am too to be frank)
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What is that saying? “Hope springs eternal in the human breast?” That’s always been me. But it sure can be hard when we’re wired in to 24/7 news and the frightening possibilities of another 4 years under a certain past president who shall not be named.
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love ekphrastic prompts because of the different interpretations and style of poems. I love where the image took you, Lill, the title, and these lines especially:
‘Sun-flowered happiness rollicking
beneath cobalt cloudless skies’
and
‘Human dignity bathed in light,
tinted with opalescent caring,
glowing in a patina of hope.’
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Thank you so much, Kim. One painting….so many and diverse responses. I agree!
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Hi Lillian,
Loved the opening
‘Recessed window’s wide ledge
holds spirits for drinker’s escape.’
It’s all to easy to blank out what needs to be done.
Your poem does indeed give food for thought, yet the thinkers of the world seem to be outnumbered by the fighters.
There is always hope. There has to be.
Lovely poem.
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There has to be indeed!
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Had Van Gogh laid off the absinthe, he might never have fallen down into this strange and wonderfully lit rooms … He sure would have had a longer chance to find out. Who indeed will find again where he ended? Well done and thanks for hosting.
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Glad you enjoyed!
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Wow!!! The last verse is my favourite
Much♡love
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Me too!
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I love how you blended in themes of the day and splashed the whole thing in color. So warm and rhythmic.
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Thank you, Colleen!
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Great poem, Lilian!
“Is there a bard to create this script? A Dali, Miro, or Kahloto produce this surrealism?”,
I love these lines!
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Thanks! So glad you enjoyed!
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oh f&*K level wow.
just love how good paintings can bring on such heart felt feelongs.
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yep….I do agree with Kim. Ekphrastic poetry is quite enjoyable to write and it’s amazing all of the diverse responses one painting can have! Glad you enjoyed.
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I love this critique of Van Gogh’s window followed by your hopeful yet prophetic call for a societal paradigm shift!
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Societal paradigm shift….yes!
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:>)
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We all need to work together to make it so. (K)
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Amen to that!
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Lillian,
I especially love the ending to your poem. What artist can create the visual of hope and love for us to live into? Maybe we could all consider ourselves a part of that huge mural of humanity and boldly show our color? Your poem got me thinking and I always appreciate a poem that leads me to ponder.
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What a lovely comment to read this morning. Thank you, Ali!
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Lillian,
Thank you for your feedback regarding the structure of this poem. The design was to create a pause, a purposeful breath, as an act of loving support.
Wishing you sunshine.
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“Foundation layer of iridescent justice.” Let’s start there. A dazzling take on the prompt, colored with hope. I especially like the last three lines.
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So good to have you at dVerse LIVE yesterday! Glad you enjoyed my post. Thank you.
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Human dignity is a fine attribute if honored by the parties involved. Thank you for your “cerulean sky”, I learned a new word. Now if I can remember it. Thank you hosting today, I was feeling bad about not writing a “pi” poem for pi Day, this is a resting spot for it. Seems that I may have started in 2011 when I first honored the day.
..
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List of times google found pi postings,
JIM’S LITTLE PHOTO AND POEM PLACE (jimmiehov6.blogspot.com)
..
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I used to bake a pi on pie day….but alas, no more. Glad you enjoyed my post.
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Love “Sun-flowered happiness rollicking
beneath cobalt cloudless skies.”🌻
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Glad you’ve enjoyed. I’ve always found sunflowers so happy! 🙂
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I love where the painting took you, Lillian. We have to have hope (and art), but yes, the world is frightening right now.
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Some days, with the 24/7 new cycle and politics as it is, I work very hard to think positively all day. We need more smiles and more rollicking sunflowers!
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You’re welcome, Lillian. Sometimes self-care takes precedence–though I’m afraid too many are simply ignoring what’s going on.
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I tried to make it to LIVE this morning, but I sorry, I couldn’t — I felt tired and poorly, and would not have been much of a contributor. Hope it went well my friend. I genuinely am grateful for your extended hand of friendship. Maybe next week. Lil. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
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We missed you, but totally understand. It is, after all, earlier than 10 AM in your time zone….plus when you’re feeling poorly, it’s just not fun. Main thing is to concentrate on feeling better.
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Oh my gosh – such a beautiful contrast between the darkness of the world and the yearning for a brighter, more hopeful reality…. I feel like I’ve been invited to reflect on the power of human potential to create positive change! Gorgeous!
~David
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What a wonderful comment to wake up to this morning. Made me smile! YES….there is positive potential….it simply has to be harnessed somehow….and more importantly, activated! Thanks for reading.
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Beautiful. ❤️
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