Monday, January 2, 2012

Magpie #98 - "Shades of Grey"

"River", Marina Moevs, 2005 used for "Magpie Tales #98"
Shades of Grey

Venice is still beautiful
wrapped in gray,
John Singer Sargent
painted it that way.

Mists early morning kiss
upon silvered waters
is a loveliness embraced
by nature's cheval glass,

but a tempest hides
beyond gilded frame
threatening nature's
youthful rosy blush.

I search my own tilted image,
marred,
quizzically pondering
my own shades of grey.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, January 2, 2012

Linked to Magpie Tales #98, hosted by Tess Kincaid of "Life at Willow Manor" AND
to Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Open Link Monday" AND  dVerse's "Open Link Night"

I apologize if some have read this twice.  I will bet busy next week as ALL the kids will be back at college and school...

 John Singer Sargent  and his "Venice in Gray Weather" painting  & Cheval Glass

Cheval Glass
at

29 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlJanuary 2, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    nice incorporation of both images! :) your own shades of grey. ha!

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  2. Cathy FeasterJanuary 2, 2012 at 11:17 PM

    and there are so many shades of grey we all have to reflect on

    and love how you incorporated both images.

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  3. Susie ClevengerJanuary 3, 2012 at 12:59 AM

    Love this...so much gray to contemplate..perhaps "we" should color our own world.

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  4. Kerry O'ConnorJanuary 3, 2012 at 1:36 AM

    Quite wonderful to see where the picture took you.. I love the final note of introspection.

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  5. ChristineJanuary 3, 2012 at 2:25 AM

    A lovely musical feel about this one - deceptively simple but much said, I think.

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  6. MaryJanuary 3, 2012 at 7:23 AM

    I love this. I think we all have our own shades of grey...

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  7. LynJanuary 3, 2012 at 7:51 AM

    Clever- what lies beyond the gilded frame...it's always there...Good!

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  8. Laurie KolpJanuary 3, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    Unique and a very beautiful piece, Margaret... love the second stanza, and the third flows perfectly with a threatening tone. Great ending, too. Heck, the whole piece rocks!

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  9. Ginny BrannanJanuary 3, 2012 at 8:20 AM

    Love the combination, the words of one like metaphor for the other:


    Mists early morning kiss
    upon silvered waters
    is a loveliness embraced
    by nature's cheval glass,

    I search my own tilted image,
    marred,
    quizzically pondering
    my own shades of grey.

    Outstanding!

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  10. ScarletJanuary 3, 2012 at 8:33 AM

    Lovely use of the colors and metaphor of the water ~

    Nice reflections of time passing by (it seems to me) ~

    Happy day ~

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  11. Brian MillerJanuary 3, 2012 at 8:46 AM

    nice...like how you played this margaret...the metaphor of the river and how he sees it...and what lies beneath our own exterior...

    as to your question at tumblewords...no i think beauty comes even with wrinkles...smiles.

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  12. Janet MartinJanuary 3, 2012 at 10:18 AM

    Gorgeous!

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  13. BerowneJanuary 3, 2012 at 10:58 AM

    I'm afraid that, yes, we all have our own shades of gray.

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  14. Ostensible TruthJanuary 3, 2012 at 12:28 PM

    oh how well you responded to this picture here - really liked "my own shades of grey." - nice work - great seeing this up at Real Toads

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  15. HelenJanuary 3, 2012 at 1:00 PM

    This is the season for 'grey' where I live ... you captured the essence of both images beautifully.

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  16. DomJanuary 3, 2012 at 2:16 PM

    Brilliant <3

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  17. Doctor FTSEJanuary 3, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    Beautifully entwining the images. Well done.

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  18. izzyJanuary 3, 2012 at 5:04 PM

    Those wonderful tilting glasses- nice combination of two themes!

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  19. Janet MartinJanuary 3, 2012 at 6:56 PM

    Who knew shades of gray could be so stunning! The last verse, so powerful. Stellar vision.

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  20. Brian MillerJanuary 3, 2012 at 7:52 PM

    busy i understand...nice to see you at OLN....

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  21. Mary Ann PotterJanuary 3, 2012 at 8:38 PM

    Pondering shades of gray --- an imnpressive image for the ending of this poem. Beautifully composed with a real flow.

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  22. Maude LynnJanuary 3, 2012 at 8:58 PM

    This is exquisite.

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  23. ClaudiaJanuary 4, 2012 at 12:54 AM

    now i'm pondering about my own shades of grey after reading this...like your journey of thoughts here..the play on venice..sigh...nice

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  24. Sherry Blue SkyJanuary 4, 2012 at 1:30 AM

    Yes, those shades of grey resonate!

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  25. EllaJanuary 4, 2012 at 10:18 AM

    Well done~
    I love the mood and thoughts~
    I am now rethinking gray :D

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  26. MargaretJanuary 4, 2012 at 10:05 PM

    Thank you. Poetry is truly a learning process and your comments and critiques truly help me.

    In this poem, I was pondering the beauty of silver and grey and how pretty it really is in artwork and my own incoming grey has been on my mind lately as I am trying to decide if I like it growing out. WHY is it men are "distinguished" and woman are considered "aged".

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  27. susan m hinckleyJanuary 5, 2012 at 2:08 PM

    love this, although it hits a little close to home...and I found the first stanza to be particularly charming for some reason, perhaps the rhyme -- anyway, nicely done!

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  28. G-ManJanuary 5, 2012 at 10:13 PM

    Margaret Dear...
    It's worth reading a Thousand times!!!

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  29. MargaretJanuary 6, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    So, G-Man ... have you reached 500 yet? :)

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