Because April is National Poetry Month, I’ve decided to share with you some ekphrastic poems I’ve written this past year. Ekphrastic poems are written about works of art, most often visual art like paintings and sculpture, but they may be about a performance piece like dancing, acting, or film. This poem reflects on a lovely O’Keefe painting of a New Mexican river. I love the painting because it reminds me of my very own American River (a tributary of the Sacramento) which flows behind my house.
My river is greenish brown in sun, slate black in shade, traveling a well-worn path from Sierra snowmelt over boulders, tree roots, pebbles, dreams: gush to stream to trickle.
It has earned its darkness
and its mysteries.
It mates with the sun
in the California heat
escaping into
an invisible sky
perfect hiding spot
from captains of industry
corporate warlords
those who seek
to bottle and commodify.
Her river is milky blue
and I think, This river is young.
Curving round/carving
sandstone canyon,
this river wants to play
to shape the landscape
to exert the force
of its voluminous power.
It is spring. Life renews.
Blue river, you shimmy toward
the bottom of the canvas.
As trees offer fruit,
and birds song,
you present your bounty—
abundant hope
inevitable generosity.
Nancy, this is magical!
I experienced it as the river’s gifts to the valley which ultimately is life!
Thank you!
Thanks so much, Dick! That’s how I see it too! Have a lovely weekend!