For Paul Brookes’ Special Ekphrastic Challenge (Jan. 7-Feb.6), I’ve responded to the three works below.
–Christine O’Connor 
-Marcel Herms “Toenaderingspoging” 
-Kerfe Roig “Wet Sunlight”
Every Winter, but Especially This One
In a blanket fuzzy-soft with woven dreams
muted in the winter days of daze and grey-fog haze—
cozy-wrapped to window-watch the whipping winds
kiss the rocks and lick sand-blasted cheeks and chins.
But muted blues and greys, turn brighter as clouds part,
and dawn streaks the sky, and we try to reconcile–this art
of rapprochement, the unfurled fury with the sight
of so much beauty, so much light
hidden, so much forbidden, in history resurrected,
the monsters walk among us—sometimes undetected–
but see the sunshine, through the clouds,
and glowing now, vivid summer-loud.
Winter tears evaporate to fall as spring rain,
the patterns repeat—again
the woven patterns form straight lines of vibrant hue
to circle, cuddled in brumous blue–
to wait for what? Who knows
how or why a flower grows
in a crack,
and then comes back
like a beloved voice, a brilliant smile,
the sparkling scintillation soaring across miles–
glowing, flashing—the sight
of color flowing from, rising to the white.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
Oh my! Quite lovely. Thank you for the journey.
Thank you very much!
Especially this one indeed.
Lovely as always!
Thank you so much!
Lovely, Merril.
Thank you, Jill.
Clever couplets, Merril!
Thank you, Marian!
These lines in particuar resonated with me:
Who knows
how or why a flower grows
in a crack,
and then comes back
like a beloved voice, a brilliant smile,
Thank you very much, Liz!
You’re welcome, Merril!
Lovely, Merril. 💗
Thank you very much, Gwen!
The straight lines circling–yes, that’s right. This makes me think of other collages I’ve done too. (K)
Yes–thank you.
So splendid. The flower growing in a crack takes me right back to our Fr. Hamer, French master expressing the wonder of plants doing just that through tarmac.
Thank you so much, Derrick. What a lovely comment!
“and then comes back” – like me, to read more of your poems.
Awww–😘