A Girl on a Swing
The swing hangs empty,
the girl is gone,
so, too
her buoyant child-laughter
that bubbled and burst
from a spring deep inside her
when she and her sisters
pirouetted in the garden,
as stars danced above, and the moon sang–
but only dirges sound now,
to gun and bomb percussion,
though the empty swing still rocks
till it, too, falls
there
atop measureless roots
connected in harmony, pulsing with
the rhythm of time,
where someday there will be new trees
new swings, boundless laughter,
and moon lullabies.
Some of you know I’m doing an ekphrastic challenge this month, but I wanted to participate in this dVerse prompt that shares the artwork of artist “Vika Muse.” You can see other examples on the dVerse prompt page, and you can find Vika Muse on Instagram: @get.muse
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
One day…. but for another girl… this girl is lost.
Hope is hard to feel when we need to purge what we’ve had before building it back.
So true, Björn. All those children in every war. . .
Oh Merril….the image of the empty swing….and then the affirmation at the end. So beautifully written. I have a lump in my throat.
Oh–thank you so much, Lillian! 💙
It’s hard to find hope in it all but it’s there…and it lives in your poem so sweetly. This line really made me pause and visualize…..”though the empty swing still rocks
till it, too, falls”
That was the line that most affected me as well.
Thank you very much, Liz!
You’re welcome, Merril!
Thank you very much, Mish.
Things are so terrible there, but from her art and comments, it seems the artist wants to believe someday things will be better.
Tragic, but filled with hope, yes…….searing…but the future will be different…
Thank you, Ain.
Stalin killed 10 million of his own people, and no one stopped him. Trump waits in the wings sending air kisses to his butt-buddy Putin. History is holding its breath, waiting for the exhale of democracy.
I’m a historian by training. I know all that, and also that we are at a very dangerous point here in the US. Yes, it is very scary.
Such beauty–and sorrow–hanging from a swing. I too have a lump in my throat.
How different is the mood of Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem, which my mother used to recite to me: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43166/the-swing-56d221dc6ffc4
So pleasant and innocent as childhood should be.
Thank you very much, Marian.
It is sad that in so many parts of the world–here, too–children are not permitted to live pleasant, innocent lives.
“measureless roots.”
Thank you.
The roots will remain. But now is where children live, and it has been taken away from them in so many places all over the world. (K)
That is so very true, Kerfe. Thank you.
“The swing hangs empty,
the girl is gone,”
The stage is set absolutely, but for the hope of a future in new trees. A poignant write.
Much💜love
Thank you so much for your perceptive comment, Gillena. 💙💛
The image of the empty swing is so sad. I am very hopeful for this in the future:
the rhythm of time,
where someday there will be new trees
new swings, boundless laughter,
and moon lullabies.
Thank you, Grace. I hope peace comes soon–to all the world.
I could feel that swing with the rhythm of time, longing for laughter once more. Powerful write! 💙💛
Thank you so much, Tricia! 💙💛
How sad that the girl’s world should be turned upside down in this way! You have chosen your words well to fit to her art, Merril.
Thank you very much, Ingrid. That’s a lovely comment. 💙
Children suffer the most and your words reinforce the loss that generations will feel. Very moving write, Merril.
Thank you so much, Punam. It is an extra tragic result of all wars.
So it is. You are welcome, Merril.
Thank you for the hope at the end of this amazing poem. It could be dedicated to all our children, who became victims of this cruel war. Actually, you depict everything exactly as it is. Our interrupted life, cruel war and subtle hope at the end with is still alive. Very moving poem 💛💙
Thank you so much! From what you create and what you have written, I thought you wanted some hope. I’m pleased I responded to your wonderful art with a poem that you thought moving. Sending you more hope and I wish for peace soon.
(Some of my ancestors came from Kyiv.)
This is such a sad and all too real picture of what is going on in Ukraine. Your poem illustrates what I am sure many thousands of Ukrainians feel at this time.
Thank you very much, Dwight. I don’t want to presume I know, but I hope I got the essence right.
You are welcome!
So very beautifully evoked, Merril
Thank you so much, Derrick.
You captured the soul of Vika’s art work with your words, Merril. It’s stunning. ❤
Thank you so much, Colleen! 💙
You’re welcome, Merril. 💜
So lovely Merril. The images of happy girls playing in the garden and then it was all gone.
“but only dirges sound now,
to gun and bomb percussion,
though the empty swing still rocks
till it, too, falls”
The ugliness of war 😢 So sad.
Thank you so much, Christine.
It is so very sad.
We have to hope things will be better soon. You did this image proud.
Thank you, so much. I hope so.
💞
There is so much hope here! The last lines were just so powerful. Really heartwarming! Loved and enjoyed reading this💜🌌
Thank you very much!
Thanks nice piece
Thank you.
nice….👌
https://colorsinfusion.wordpress.com/
Thank you.