Franz Marc [Public domain],”The Little Blue Horses,”via Wikimedia Commons
Reflecting the sky,
manes and tails
glow,
Four legs gallop, then rest
sides heaving,
blue
mothers and foals nuzzle,
in sheltered
love
safe from Earth’s war and bombs
far travels
space
and time, final frontiers,
journeys of
hope
under the sky’s two suns,
peaceful world
found
This is a tilus series in response to Jane Dougherty’s poetry challenge. The prompt was the above painting by Franz Marc.
A tilus is composed of 10 syllables altogether: 6 for the first line, 3 for the second, and 1 for the third. I found this form very difficult to write. I’ve put together a series to tell a story because I really wondered about those blue horses, and I couldn’t tell their story in 10 syllables.
I had a hard time wrapping my head around blue horse. This clearly explains it.
Thanks, Ken. It needed explaining. 😉
New forms take a while for me too. I tried a Minute poem today and didn’t care for the result. This is well done. A tough form..
Thank you, Michael. I tried several versions of a single tilus, and then deleted all of them. I think it could write one that is just about a feeling, but I really wanted to write about these blue horses!
The image didn’t inspire me and nothing came to mind so I had to pass on this one, sadly. I enjoy Jane’s feedback and reading the other poems. It’s about the growth so even the awkward first attempts have their purpose.
Is this your first tilus? If so, pretty amazing. I associate odd colored animals with Picasso. I am not familiar with Franz Marc.
Thanks for helping think about something other than labeling and taping boxes shut.
Thanks so much, Marian. Yes, first tilus. 🙂
Jane used a Franz Marc painting for another challenge, too.
I hope the moving process is going well–and almost at an end!
A lovely response, Merril
Thank you, Derrick.
Merril, I love color and imagination playing with words in peaceful poetry. This was both fun and pretty! Just a day brightener! 🙂
I had a 48 hour week so will travel back through your blog to catch up, friend. xo
Thank you, Robin. I just had to explain those blue horses. 😉
I hope you have a relaxing weekend after your long work week!
Thanks for each example of the blue horses, Merril. Such a Peace (between mankind, countries and in our peace of mind. . . ) we need as we approach the New Year of 2017, in somewhat fear and trepidation here in the U.S. ❤
It is difficult to have peace of mind just now. Sigh.
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Yep, you’ve managed to explain the horses quite well. I love this!
Thank you so much!