Inspired by AWD4, “Hidden Crime”
Galloping
There were The Rules
and The Rules had to be obeyed–
it didn’t matter what they were
they didn’t exist to make sense,
only to break us.
She knew they would come
eventually
the figures with robes the color
of the sky–
they tried to kill her love
of blue
but had to kill her instead
because she dared
to speak, to write, to paint, to sing
in every shade and hue
and inspired others
to mark the walls
with her symbol
a blue-eyed horse–
one day, they’d ride it
and gallop to freedom.
Inspired by JPL 4
As Time Goes By
“The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by”
–Herman Hupfeld, “As Time Goes By” (1931)
We took a walk in the old neighborhood,
the rooftops glowed with welcome,
the window of our old attic flat smiled—
once sunlight streamed through that window
coating our naked bodies in gold,
once winter licked us with its cold tongue
so that we held each other tighter
under the flimsy blankets.
Good memories, you said.
Good memories, I agreed.
You took my hand, and we walked on.
I am once again participating in Paul Brookes’ April Ekphrastic Challenge. Each day, I will post my poem(s) here. You can see the art and read the other responses by going to Paul’s site here.
The artists are Gaynor Kane, John Phandal Law, and Anjum Wasim Dar. Thank you for your wonderful and inspiring art!
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Excellent responses. The first one is particularly powerful and of course brought to my mind Marc’s blue horses. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe. I assumed you and Jane would get that reference. 🙂
Well done, Merril. Each is different and intriguing in its own way. For me, the time one is my fav.
Thank you very much for reading, Frank!
I really find the first poem intriguing for the story it tells! But they are both beautifully written 😊
Thank you very much, Ingrid!
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
I particularly like “As Time Goes By.” I must have needed to experience something that didn’t go wrong. These lines are lines are my favorite, delicious and shivery:
once winter licked us with its cold tongue
so that we held each other tighter
under the flimsy blankets.
Thank you so much, Liz. I’m so pleased it spoke to you.
For some reason, As Time Goes By went through my head–not so much the song in Casablanca, but the British series from several years ago with Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer and old lovers in general.
You’re welcome, Merril. I remember the British series. My husband and I watched every episode.
I’m sure we did, too! I still see it listed sometimes on PBS stations.
is the blue eyed horse referring to Chagall’s blue horse? It’s a lovely piece of writing – quite imposing and dread making until the last 2 lines … Thanks Merril.
Thank you, Susan. The whole painting reminded me of Chagall, and then the horses made me think of Franz Marc’s Blue Horses.
Wonderful duo. I too got the Blue horse reference 😉
I love your two responses.
Thank you so much, Dale! 💙🐴
You are welcome! 🧡