A Poem for a Painting

 

I recently came across a poetry competition called the Ekphrastic Poetry Contest. I know, I had to look it up too! It turns out that this refers to writing a poem that interprets a work of art. For example, Don McLean's song, Vincent - or, as we all think of it - Starry, Starry Night -  is essentially an ekphrastic interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's painting, The Starry Night.

Well, despite the pretentious competition title, I liked the idea of this poetic challenge. Particularly so, because Dick's painting, Migration, has been sitting on his easel, greeting me each time I walk down the hallway. I have mentioned before that he felt a strong connection to Native American culture, and this painting came deeply from his soul. It was probably his favorite painting, and I used it for the invitations to his Celebration of Life.

The competition is over, and my poem didn't win, which means I can go ahead and publish it here on my blog - most competitions only want unpublished poems, which is a real pain. Sometimes when I enter a competition, I feel I have a chance. But with this one, and this publisher, I didn't really think that - my poems are never their cup of tea! The thing is, I really didn't write it for the competition, I wrote it for the challenge of the exercise. And, because I wanted to create my own little work of art to honor his. I did it for Dick, and I think he likes it. The poem is below the painting.

MIGRATION

PAINTING BY JR SECOR

MIGRATION

POEM BY MELISSA ANN GOODWIN

There you are!

In the heart of your tribe,

surrounded by your ancestors.

You, 

in the yellow robe,

safe among them now,

traveling to a new home.

After all the sorrow 

and all the pain,

After all the suffering

and the heartbreak,

After all the laughter

and all the love,

Walking!

Your body, 

that had forgotten

how it felt to stand,

or to place one foot

ahead of the other

as if it were

the most natural thing

in the world,

now gliding upright 

and at ease

across the land

Oh!

The joy of it!

To feel the ground

beneath your feet again,

each step,

a small

but not at all small

miracle

Your eyes

alive with wonder

at the richness 

of color -

the opal sky,

the vermillion cliffs

casting rainbow shadows

with the setting sun

Your heart,

unburdened now,

you are traveling light.

Far ahead,

you glimpse 

a shimmering New Land,

your new home,

Your mind ablaze

with wonder

that you never realized

how beautiful it all is - 

how beautiful it always was.