Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Starry, Starry Night

 The Starry Night
—Vincent Van Gogh, 1889
Museum of Modern Art, NYC

* * *

—Poetry by Joan McNerney, Ravena, NY
—Photos Courtesy of Public Domain
 
 
STARRY NIGHT
After Vincent Van Gogh

Circular wind wrapped
with sky and sorrow.
Bulging fists of stars
blaze frantically.

Hurricane of the mind
split moon.

Cypress tree swirls
through liquid hills
rapid sky.

Motionless
a faint town lies in
hesitant expectancy.
 
 
 
Night Fishing at Antibes
—Pablo Picasso, 1939
Museum of Modern Art, NYC


NIGHT FISHING AT ANTIBES
After Pablo Picasso

What sort of night is this?
Demons are loose.  How
diabolically the sun shines
on this green ocean.

Is all the world upside down?
Fish fly in mountains while
respectable ladies bicycle
on rooftops

Look! A fisherman has struck
his spear into a whale,
That will make a nice stew!
 
 
 

Birthday
—Marc Chagall, 1887
Museum of Modern Art, NYC



BIRTHDAY
After Marc Chagall

She: "Which is the loveliest flower,
the pink, yellow or white?”

He: "You, my dearest posy, are
most tender blossom of them all."

She: "Sweet bud, blow me a kiss."

He: "You make me feel as if I could fly."

They: "Our love has given us wings.
Come, let us soar into the sunset together..."
 
 
 

Water Lilies
—Claude Monet, 1916-1919
Museum of Modern Art, NYC



WATER LILIES
After Claude Monet

Become a swan,
glide upon
patches of water lilies,
nibbling smooth, white petals.

Drift among shades
of green and blue
through grassy marshes...
pass pink, yellow, azure.

Be a crystal swan,
float upon water reeds
that rub your feathered
neck like a Buddha stroke.

_____________________

Today’s LittleNip:

I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.

—Vincent Van Gogh

_____________________

Welcome back to Prodigal Poet Joan McNerney, who first visited the Kitchen in 2013, and her Ekphrastic poetry today! Joan has been the recipient of three scholarships and has recited her work at the National Arts Club, New York City, State University of New York, Oneonta, McNay Art Institute, San Antonio and the University of Houston, Texas. Published worldwide in over thirty-five countries, her work has appeared in literary publications too numerous to mention. Four Best of the Net nominations have been awarded to her. Her books,
The Muse in Miniature, Love Poems for Michael and At Work, are available on Amazon.com/. A new release, entitled Light & Shadow, explores the recent historic COVID pandemic. Welcome back, Joan, and don’t be a stranger!

______________________

—Medusa
 
 
 
 Joan McNerney
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 














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