Sarah’s ekphrastic prompt at dVerse featured the art of Lee Madgwick. The prompt closed before I got a chance to respond, but here is my poem inspired by this painting. I may write more inspired by the others.
Fragments
Grey-furred clouds sit cat-like
ready to pounce
a breeze strokes the marsh grass—
sighs at the water-whispers,
secret murmurs heard by fish and birds
who swim and fly, here and gone because
time here is as fluid
as the endless river before me
going nowhere or everywhere,
ebbing and flowing concurrently
like conversations at a holiday dinner
where words from the past linger
and mingle with what is spoken
and what is left unsaid,
a barred door
or one open to possibility,
this world of dreams is one universe
of many where stars hum far in the distance.
Now an empty boat waits for me,
I will enter and exit many times
without remembering . . .
until I do.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Wow, Merril. This poem is full of such wonderful images and ideas. I LOVE it! Carol
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Hi Carol!! Thank you very much. It’s great to see you here, and I’m so pleased you love the poem!
Really wonderful ideas!
Thank you very much!
I’m with Carol … a huge WOW, Merril. It’s loaded with imagery and metaphors … and on first read, I imagine it’s also subject to many interpretations. All that adds up to a very good poem based on a painting. Well done!!!
Thank you very much, Frank. It took a while to get this one the way I wanted it, so I’m pleased it resonated so much with you!
I love this. Especially the ending.
Thank you very much!
My pleasure!
Lovely, Merril ☀️
Thank you, Rene! 🌸
you are so welcome!
Absolutely wonderful, Merril. You chose the right one… of course, I cannot wait for the others, too 😉
Thank you so much, Dale! 😊
My pleasure!
Your poem is perfect with the painting, and, yes, that ending!
Thank you very much, Marie! 😊
I love this, the following metaphor in particular:
going nowhere or everywhere,
ebbing and flowing concurrently
like conversations at a holiday dinner
where words from the past linger
and mingle with what is spoken
and what is left unsaid,
Thank you so much, Liz.
Nice, Merril. I think this is a door open to possibility.
Thank you, Ken.
You’ve caught that between-ness in this image perfectly.
Now an empty boat waits for me,
I will enter and exit many times
I like those lines especially. So evocative. (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe. I really felt those lines.
The empty dream-boat awaits to take us to another land! How wonderful!
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
A multi-layered gem, Merril
Thank you so much, Derrick!
Since we chose the same image, I have my interpretation already, but though I put a name to the woman in the house watching the river, you and I could still be talking about the same one. This is on a calm day, before the dream shattered.
Yes, I think so. Or in my interpretation, not necessarily shattered in a bad way, but changed.
I wonder if the Lady of Shalott ever thought she’d be able to get around the curse one day. She probably dreamed of it at least.
Of course, she must have.
🙂
I love this, Merril! It’s so lyrical and flowing and I see and hear the things your mention so clearly…
Thank you so much, Freya, for your lovely comment!
Such a great poem! I like the verse about conversations at holiday dinners…what is said, and what is left unsaid. Very good!
Thank you so much, Linda! 😊
Oh, wow! I love this, Merril, especially the ending. 💙
Thank you very much, Punam! 💙
My pleasure.
Quite great Merril!
I read all your poems at least 2-3 times. They get more meaningful with each reading.
Your name should be Merril Wordsmith.
Thank you very much, Resa. I truly appreciate your kind words, and thank you for reading!
The reading is all my pleasure!
❤️