The Portrait

The Portrait

He strolls the shoreline,
pants rolled above ankles
as waves crash, seemingly cling,
momentarily comb October's beach smooth
before rapidly receding, repeating ,

footprints lasting as long
as the chords he strums.

Silhouetted against the sinking sun,
he's mysterious, a balladeer, a poet,
a young man beginning a journey -
seeking, offering his voice
as a gift to the sky

which is swooped, caught, and carried
to the clouds upon seagulls' wings.

I imagine him in New York's subway,
no blue, no fresh breeze,
playing these tunes, lyrics birthed -
hair escaping over furrowed brow,
leaning back, slouching, James Dean style,

offering a glimpse of a smirk, almost
allowing us in on his secrets.

Imagine him gazing at the moon
from small apartment window,
fighting sleep, dreaming of a lover's kiss,
wishing upon a star (straight on 'til morning),
penning his soul,

a moment leatherbound,
etched into forever.

Dreams fill him daily, I envy him that;
ponder when I misplaced my daring,
my castles in the air.  When did I forget
imagination isn't delusion?  His chin
tilts upward, his heart in his fingers

as they strum the chords.  I kick off my shoes,
roll up my pants, test the sand with my toe.

by Margaret Bednar, October 9, 2019

I invite you to listen to me read my poem:

This is linked with "Poets United - Midweek Motif - Everyday Living" and "dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics - Profiles and Portraits" and "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads -  Sanaa's Challenge - October - When Poets Dream, Lament, and Sing" - the song I chose to listen to and reflect upon was: Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. 

dVerse Poetics - Undercurrents - "I See Her"

I See Her

I'm one among many,
elementary school auditorium
squeezed in tightly
beaming with anticipation
lights dim, room hushes

voices ring out
try to harmonize center-stage
the loudest note, off key
as young warblers part
for my daughter's solo.

The crowd fades as I
sit transfixed
as the soft light

caresses
her angled cheeks
and full lips
dances down her lithe form
fingertip to toe, arabesque
silhouetting her figure,
more hour-glass than boxy

as she sings, soprano
of love flirtatious
exuding confidence

and then
she blends back in
harmonizing with the other children

and I see her as if for the first time
still beaming, but now
with a tear in my eye.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, January 29, 2012

* * * * *

This is for dVerse Poetics - "Undercurrents" is the topic today, hosted by ManicDDaily.  As I understand the challenge, it is the capturing of layers of a moment or experience.  I worked until late last night on this prompt and wasn't happy with numerous attempts, finally just deleting them!  I even searched my archives (hoping to be able to cheat a bit) but I found that I haven't really written in this very personal style.

So, I went with the most recent event, a musical revue I attended last night put on by my 8th grade daughter's elementary school (4th graders - 8th graders).  It is my understanding that the "meaning" is supposed to be hinted at, not actually stated... something I struggle with in my poetry all the time.

I hope I achieved this moment when a mother realizes her daughter is no longer a little girl (by hinting at it, not saying).

Also linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Open Link Night"

Spiral Curl

"Spiral Curls"

It was quite nice for "The Little Princess" to coincide with the Sunday Creative's word of the week = spiral.  

Our local Fox 8 news covered my daughter singing a duet of  "Suppose" - a song from the show.  

http://www.myfox8.com/videobeta/?watchId=2517dc31-196d-41ae-be35-677cf7a51ab0

33/365 "Homecoming"

Gotta LOVE resale boutiques.  Everything under $25.  Dresses were $10!

...so we bought 4.  That IS the way it works, right?

"A Classic Pose"

"A Classic Pose"

This is for the "Weekend Reflections" challenge.  Taken at the end of summer - not sure if these girls have ever watched the show "Charlie's Angels" - but I think they've got the pose down!

Boy - Alphabet Challenge

"All BOY!"

This is for the Alphabet Challenge.  I almost got in on the ground floor with the the letter B.  It isn't supposed to be from my photo archive - but I am giving myself a week's grace period surrounding this challenge.  My girls posed quite prettily upon the straw bale.  He was "All Boy" and bent upon destruction!

"Daydreaming"

Daydreaming

This is my submission for "Black & White Wednesdays" for last week (9-8-2010)

"Security"

The comfort to explore

...wish we all felt as secure to explore & experience life.

 This is my contribution to Madeline Bea's "Sunday Creative". 
The weekly word is "Comfort".

5/365 Challenge "The Eyes Say it All"

"This shake is mine!"

Well, not really.  He was sipping his sister's shake.

Day 1/365 "The Tea Party"

The simplicity of  innocence,

the ability to make believe,

and the pure enjoyment of each day

 This is the "magic" of being young.

And guess what?

There is no age limit!