Fresh peonies, sir? For the lady in your life?
Bouquet of crimson and gold tulips
for your table, ma’am?
She walks the market every morning,
flower basket in hand .
Cotton sweater wards off cool breeze.
Delicately notched white linen collar,
embroidered in tiny stitches,
frames her stoic sable face.
Modest madras head scarf
reveals pomegranate-red earrings
hanging below her earlobes.
She approaches early shoppers,
queries softly. Hides her anxiety.
These beautiful blooms
her livelihood.
Written for OLN at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. OLN is Open Link Night when writers can post any one poem of their choosing OR use the optional prompt given.
As host for OLN today, I’ve provided an optional ekphrastic prompt. An ekphrastic poem is one that is inspired by a piece of art so today, I’ve provided the painting, Black Woman with Peonies by French Impressionist painter, Frederic Bazille. Born in 1841, he created this beautiful painting in 1870, the last year of his life.
Consider this an INVITATION!
I’m also hosting dVerse LIVE on Saturday, May 11th from 10 to 11 AM Boston time.
Folks from across the globe participate as we meet with audio and video for an hour. Each attendee is welcome to read a poem of their choice OR they can simply come by to watch and listen. We’re a very friendly bunch! One of the last sessions I hosted had folks from across the US, Pakistan, the UK, Sweden, Kenya, Australia, Trinidad Tobago, India, and Finland! If you’d like to join us click on the link below on Saturday, May 11th – beginning at 10 AM.
https://meet.google.com/pxr-nobe-oir
Hope to see you Saturday morning!
PS: if the link above doesn’t work, click here which will take you directly to the dVerse page that includes a direct link to the LIVE session!
lillian the home poet 
You have captured the story so well Lillian.
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Thank you. I really love the painting!
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It is an arresting image
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I love all the detail in your ekphrastic poem, Lill, from the cotton sweater with its ‘delicately notched white linen collar, embroidered in tiny stitches’ to the ‘modest madras head scarf’ and ‘pomegranate-red earrings’.
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Ah…..we both were enamored with this lady 🙂
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Good characterization of the woman in the image.
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Thanks. I truly love the painting.
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You’re welcome!
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You described this lovely woman with perfect poetry, sigh. I hope you read this to us Saturday.
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So glad you enjoyed! 🙂 And glad you will be with us at our LIVE session Saturday!
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Wonderful ekphrastic Lil. You faithfully captured the image my friend. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
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Thank you, Rob. Look forward to seeing you Saturday at dVerse LIVE.
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You have found a piece of her story. Wonderfully woven.
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Thank you, Truedessa. I truly love the painting!
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I’d buy some flowers from her! You’ve described her perfectly, Lillian, in a colorful poetic snapshot.
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She is a beautiful woman! Glad you enjoyed the poem.
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A beautiful poem and painting. You captured it very well.
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Thank you, Dwight! Looking forward to seeing you at our LIVE session!
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both the artist and you have drawn her anxiety so clearly that we hardly notice the lovely peonies
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Thank you, Laura. So glad you enjoyed.
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A lovely poem, Lilian. I reminded me of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair lady.
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Who doesn’t love Eliza Doolittle???? 🙂
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I love the sensitivity with which this poem is penned, Lillian! 🩷🩷 Especially moved by; “Delicately notched white linen collar, embroidered in tiny stitches, frames her stoic sable face.”
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Thank you, Sanaa. See you Saturday LIVE!
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Yes – the beauty of the flowers is not enough to hide the worry in the woman’s eyes…
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Exactly!
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Beautiful, Lill. You have captured her anxiety well.
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Thank you so much. I truly love the painting!
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The flowers are wonderful. The face is a study.
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You brought her to life and gave her dignity and purpose with your words. Splendid!
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Hi Lil — Kathy wanted to leave early for the airport, so will miss you this morning. Have a great “live” community…🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
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Missed you! It wasn’t a large group, but a great group!!!
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Great job hosting Open Link, Lillian!!! Cheers!
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Oh boys will always dream… 🙂 yes those boys will need to sleep with their hands on the blanket.
December 4, 2015 from Bjorn ///// LOL
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I enjoyed the vivid imagery with which you bring her to life, Lillian.❤️🙏🏻
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