First the clouds gather, a bevy of soft doves,
transformed, reborn as wolves, who black and roaring
pounce with boom and crash, then with a flash,
the shrouded sky shines with strands of woven light,
a tapestry,
a multitude of shape, color, hues. Here, a strand of azure,
there, emerald-green, glistening with diamond sparkle, threaded
over, under–and again
embroidered with the vibrant wishes of children—blue horses, red deer,
twinkling golden stars, a spotted purple dog, a striped-orange cat—
all that—
a collection, a connection of
smiling faces brighter than the sun,
with dreams of a rainbow future–
after the storm is spent and done.
I’ve revised this poem written for Paul Brooks’ January Ekphrastic Challenge last year. Here’s the link to the first version. You can see Kerfe Roig’s art, which inspired the poem. A couple of weeks ago, I saw rainbows on two different days. Here’s
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Your descriptions are so wonderful I can picture the images transforming in my mind’s eye.
That’s wonderful. Thank you so much, Dale!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful poetry! 🙂
💙💙
🧡🧡
Really enjoy that crashing and banging! Well-written..
Thank you so much!
This is exquisitely woven, Merril! I so love; “a connection of smiling faces brighter than the sun, with dreams of a rainbow future.” 💝💝
Thank you, Sanaa! 💙
It is hard to dislike a rainbow. Your poem is rife with vivid hues and golden light, much needed commodities these days. Thanks.
Thank you very much, Glenn. Maybe it’s a bit sappy, but it’s what I thought of from Kerfe’s artwork. I always think seeing a rainbow is magical.
Wondrous imagery Merril, and I enjoyed your audio …
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Ivor.
You’re welcome …
Beautiful, Merril!
Thank you, Jill!
A wonderful tapestry of words, Merril.
Thank you so much, Ken.
I love the weave of colors. I kept being pulled by the bright beverage that, between that and your words, made my heard swirl.
Thank you so much! I’m pleased my words had that effect!
What a magnificent rainbow! And thanks once again for your beautiful response to my art. (K)
Thank you so much, and thank you for your beautiful art.
Beautiful images Merril. Rainbows and clouds always put the imagination to work.
Thanks so much, Dwight. Yes, they do.
You are welcome!
I am pleased you posted this here, Merril, as the kids interrupted the reading for me! I love the alliteration in this line:
‘the shrouded sky shines with strands of woven light’ – and it’s all beautiful to read and hear!
Thank you so much, Ingrid! I’m pleased you liked that, and it was great to see you and your boys.
Beautifully written and read. You read “smiling faces” as “shining faces” which may sound better to the ear – although you do have “shrouded sky shines” and may have wanted to avoid the repetition?
Thank you, Derrick. And thank you for your close reading and listening. I must have mis-read the line. 😀 I don’t think I changed it after recording the audio, but I might have.
Thank you for including the audio! I always enjoy your readings. I reread the original version of the poem, and I did you did a great job smoothing a couple of rough edges with your revisisions. I’m left with thinking how ironic it is that a routine phenomenon of nature can inspire such wonder and hope in us.
Thank you so much, Liz, for your comment, and for going back to the original version. Those ekphrastic poems were written quickly, since it was a daily challenge.
Looking back the original was inspired by Kerfe’s art, which for some reason made me think of the song, “Rainbow Connection.” 😀
You’re welcome, Merril. I remember that daily ekphrastic challenge. It looked very challenging!
Yes, challenging, but fun. He did a special one in January, and then did another one in April.
Lovely, vivid and unexpected images pop up and fade to the next like rainbows themselves. Enjoyed it very much.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
Wow! Amazing poem!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Linda!
What a lovely reading. It was great to hear this vivid visual poem in your own voice.
Thank you so much!
The visuals of the gathering clouds are wonderful! ☁️🌥🌧😊
Thank you very much, Charlotte! ⛈🌤🌈
Gorgeous descriptions
Thank you so much, Jude!
A stunning poem, Merril. I love all the animal analogies, they bring it to life! Good to hear the audio too (as I missed you at Open Link). I love the first two stanzas particularly 🙂
Thank you so much, Sunra! 😀
I do love how after the storm there comes a rainbow future… the imagery of the storm is great.
Thank you so much, Björn!