She is ever young and ancient, too,
mistress, mother, destroyer, divine,
she births the world, but burrows, then weeps
in cold blood darkness, and there she sleeps–
and when she dreams, the flowers bloom
on roots, warm-spun from her honeyed hair,
and ladybugs skitter, scatter, fly
beneath sun-kissed clouds and azure sky.
She is woman, goddess, earth’s true love,
diamond-eyed, rose and chocolate-scented
breast-achy, she nurses–but then sighs–
all that comes, goes, all that lives, yet dies.
An ekphrastic poem for dVerse, where Lillian is hosting and received permission from artist Catrin Welz-Stein to post four images of her work. We are permitted to choose only one of these four images to use as springboard for poetic fancy.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
OK Merril, glad you joined. This is excellent — beautiful, with a touch of bittersweet. Some wonderful images in your words. Fine writing… 🙂
Thank you so much, Rob! I appreciate your kind words. 😀
Wonderfully done, Merril.
Thanks so much, Ken!
I love how you painted her with the contrasts… built from opposites.
Thank you very much. She’d have to be, don’t you think?
Loved this, Merril! Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you very much, Jill!
rose & chocolate scented…
Thanks, Merril, for making me drool on my keyboard.
You’re welcome, Ron. Anytime. 😏
That is fantastic writing
Thank you very much!
I love how you captured her, both with light and life, darkness and death. Mother nature is ever young yet ancient.
Thank you very much, Grace.
A sensual treat with contrasting dark and light notes. Lovely!
Thank you so much, Marian! I’m so pleased you think so.
Oh Merril…thhis is a wonderful response to the image! For me, it’s almost mythical. These words I especially love
“nd ladybugs skitter, scatter, fly
beneath sun-kissed clouds and azure sky.”
but in reality, I love it all! 🙂
Thank you so much, Lillian. I was thinking mythology of my own sort. 😀 I’m so pleased you liked it.
This encompasses life in all its forms. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe.
Beautiful finish: “breast-achy, she nurses–but then sighs– / all that comes, goes, all that lives, yet dies.”
Thank you so much!
What a strong and powerful display of womanhood! Well done!
Thank you very much, Dwight!
So very good. What a pleasure to read something that touches the soul. You have created a work that expresses exactly what drew me to this image. A truly awesome combination of words and image. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your very kind words! We were on the same wavelength with this one.
Beautiful, Merril. Powerful writing. 😊
Thank you very much, Gwen!
I like the way this rolls off of my tongue. You’ve done a commendable tribute to our Mysterious Mother.
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome, Merril.
I missed this one! It’s a lovely evocation of the life that sleeps but never dies. And I like the formal structure too. It goes with the framework of roots and stems.
Thank you very much! It’s funny how sometimes a poem just comes out and decides for itself the style. 😀
Yes! Sometimes they come out as a rhythm, other times as images or colours, sometimes abstract ideas.
That’s true. The creative process is a mystery. 😀
It’s probably just as well. We wouldn’t want it to get boring, would we?
No, exactly right! 😀
🙂
Another fine response
Thank you, Derrick.
Beautifully written with that sad undertone.
Thank you so much, Jude.
My pleasure 🌼
A most gorgeously woven ekphrastic poem, Merril! 💝 I love; “and when she dreams, the flowers bloom on roots, warm-spun from her honeyed hair.” Wow! 😍
Thank you so much, Sanaa!
You’re most welcome 🙂
I love the way the images mesh together, the overriding harmony of it all, even in her weeping and distress. Just a beautiful harmony of life and death.
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful comment.
I love your ekphrastic poem. I was smiling through it; then my smile faded at the end because, of course, “all that lies, yet dies.” It’s a wonderful poem.
Thank you so much, Liz!
You’re welcome, Merril!