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| Henri Rousseau, Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!) (1891), oil on canvas |
In the light of truth and painting
finding words becomes difficult
to convey what I feel pondering
a faraway storm
lightning streaks across the heavens
as the sky river descends on
a rich green landscape
trees and ferns bend
gone are monkeys and birds
leaving an eerie silence
a tiger roars out a warning
as the wind whips, fear shows
in his dilated eyes, breathing
becomes difficult
can he out run a tropical storm
written for dVerse - Light and Truth of Painting
hosted by Melissa
Today for Poetics, I thought we might write from a selection of Rousseau’s artwork. Choose one of the paintings in this post and let it be your muse. Additionally, use the above epitaph as a launch point to describe where the painting takes you, the viewer.
A nice interpretation of the painting, Truedessa.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dwight - much appreciated
DeleteWe chose the same painting, Truedessa, and I love where it took you, ‘pondering a faraway storm’, especially the contrast of the eerie silence when the monkeys and birds are gone and the tiger’s warning roar.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, I read yours as well. The painting just seemed to speak to me.
DeleteA tiger is a suitable match for a storm. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThat is could be, Alex.
DeleteTell me the ending!!!! Does he outrun the storm??? I love how you describe the scene within the painting. The other animals gone, in hiding...the eerie silence. Just an excellent response to the painting.
ReplyDeleteHa - Maybe, we will have to see what the storm brings. Thank you for the wonderful comment.
DeleteI like that you used the outer world to perhaps convey a segment of the inner world. In these lines, “finding words becomes difficult
ReplyDeleteto convey what I feel pondering
a faraway storm,” I feel the sense of emotions that may not yet be sorted.
Melissa - Thank you for hosting. I have enjoyed reading all the poems.
DeleteI've chosen the same painting and the same angle. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jay -- sometimes we poets think in the same vein.
DeleteThe tiger's fear is stark, that was the feature i admired most in thst painting
ReplyDeleteMuch love
Thank you Gillena and I agree with your perception.
DeleteOminous and atmospheric. I can feel the tension building...and then you leave us in suspense!
ReplyDeleteMish - the painting speaks of tension ...
Deletea tiger roars out a warning
ReplyDeleteas the wind whips, fear shows
in his dilated eyes,
Love these words True! There is an element of movements that makes the poem dance to the image and colours on the canvas. Great lines!
Hank
Hi Hank, Thanks for visiting it always makes me smile. Love the element of movements and the dance.
DeleteI love the way you interpreted this, Tru!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteThe fear is the thing I always saw in this painting, Truedessa, but I like the way you picked up on the absence of all the other animals...
ReplyDeleteYes, the fear is definitely showing in the tiger's expression. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI love your take on the storm, and the detail of the tiger's eyes, he does look like he's scared. You show the terror of the impending storm in so many ways.
ReplyDelete