Friday, April 27, 2012

"The Four Divas"

Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) "The Four Seasons"
The Four Divas

Summer poses,
incandescently draped
in barberry blooms
her sultry breath
refreshing drooping necks,
flowing cape embraces creation
within its languid folds.
Autumn joy flounces
amongst lavendar asters,
seams bursting with
anemones and sedum,
capricious hips sway
with rhythmic phlox
her fickle affections fleeting.
Winter passionately swaggers
a tempest one minute,
beautifully serene the next
enticing virginal quince
and lustrous forsythia to hesitantly
raise their heads
and seek her cool touch.
Spring sashays
amongst weeping wisteria
hope wonderously
sprinkled and showered
upon delicate coral bells,
humming a gently waking overture
for the diva's annual ballet.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 27, 2012

* * * * *

This is for "IGWRT's - Fireblossom's Friday #6: Much(a) the Artistic".   I am not a gardener, my husband is - but I do enjoy walking and photographing their many seasonal wonders.  I am horrible at naming them, and as I was doing research for this poem, stumbled upon a beautiful Flicker photo worthy of a peek:  ... a male ruby throated hummingbird at Coral Bells

I just found this blog... I am adding this late so most of you missed it.  But perhaps Hedgewitch will enjoy it... "For the Love Of Gardening". 

20 comments:

Helen said...

I immersed myself in each of your Seasons .. does this place exist on planet Earth?

Kerry O'Connor said...

You have used a glorious selection of words to bring each panel to life in your poem.

TexWisGirl said...

'flounces among her asters' was my favorite line. :)

Daydreamertoo said...

This is all so beautiful, the imagery of your prose is so in sync with the paintings. Loved it!
The hummingbird pic is a beauty, aren't they gorgeous birds. We have them here.

I went to check on the horse but the cam hasn't been working all day even though it shows it's on. The other link to mommy horse and foal are so lovely to watch. :)

Jeannelle said...

You are definitely a poet!

Mary said...

You have characterized EACH season SO well! I am impressed....

Anonymous said...

I really liked that picture too. You've captured it's beauty quite well in your garden poem.

Susie Clevenger said...

How beautiful..each image, each season has its voice.

Fireblossom said...

As someone whose favorite piece of music is Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", you know I love this, Margaret. I'm thinking that Hedgewitch, our resident garden girl, will love it, too, when she sees it.

Thanks for being part of my challenge!

Maude Lynn said...

This is just beautiful, Margaret!

PattiKen said...

You've characterized these seasons so beautifully. I especially love flouncing Autumn, who has always shown herself to be a bit fickle.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Sigh. Glorious paintings, echoes of The Four Seasons and your beautiful journey through the seasons........wonderful!

Ginny Brannan said...

Lovely capture for each one, Margaret. I can see your "photographic' eye in each description! I also was inspired by The Four Seasons in an early poem I had written. Just love Mucha's style!

Margaret said...

Awe, I truly thank you all! Ginny, you could not have pleased me more with your description "photographic" eye!!! I will be a bit late in getting around this weekend as I am participating in a small horse clinic, but I WILL be by, just a bit later perhaps (unless I can get up at 6 am on my one day to sleep in).... ha, fat chance of that happening ;)

hedgewitch said...

I do love it! Mucha and flowers are a natural combination, and you've really brought the pictures to life. I love the 'barberry blooms' description, and the whole second stanza, and Winter and Spring were both imaginative and bright with life. Nice work, Margaret. And that's an interesting garden blog you linked. Thanks.

Mystic_Mom said...

This is wonderfully done...each season could stand alone, so well, and together they are perfection!

Kay L. Davies said...

I love the verbs you've chosen for each season. Perfect, Margaret.
K

Hannah said...

Your language is just dripping with scents and luxurious floral color! I loved this stanza:

"Autumn joy flounces
amongst lavendar asters,
seams bursting with
anemones and sedum,
capricious hips sway
with rhythmic phlox
her fickle affections fleeting."

Great work!

Herotomost said...

Thats quite a sophisticated glance into the seasons Mucha style. Wonderful writing. This could be framed with the art work.

Anonymous said...

sumptuous, Margaret! your words paint pictures as beautiful as Mucha's.