Tuesday, April 17, 2018

"By Design"

Kandinsky, Riding Couple, 1906
By Design  

Romance is easy to paint,
a debonair bow, flourish of flowers,
dimples either side a besotted smile,
deep blue dappled river, twinkling starlit sky,
and a city with golden spires.

Doesn't hurt to have a prince
and maiden fair upon his lap
atop a stately steed, arms entwined, chins tilted,
lips eager for first kiss.

Reality's composition is a bit more confusing
where gestures, curtsies and flirtations alone
don't charm (at least not anymore)
where life's been stirred with complications -

love's canvas a bit more complex.

by Margaret Bednar, April 14, 2018

Kandinsky, Composition VI, 1913

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - The Tuesday Platform"  The optional extra for today was to write to a 20th century artist, Wassily Kandinsky.

Also linked with NaPoWriMo 2018.

Kandinsky: Master of the Mystic Arts is an interesting peak into the mind of the artist.  B

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

A lot more complex me thinks. Beautiful poem.

Ellecee said...

Oh, this is so true. All of life is a lot more complex. Enjoyed this so much :-)

Sanaa Rizvi said...

A stellar closing line to a perfect poem!💜 My new favorite from you, Margaret.

annell4 said...

Well done. And that first kiss, that becomes a million other kisses, who can keep them straight? So best to remember the first, or the last, whichever you prefer.

Jae Rose said...

Summed up beautifully

Kerry O'Connor said...

Reality's composition is a bit more confusing...

This is a metaphor for life, Margaret!

Maude Lynn said...

Perfect.

Kim M. Russell said...


I love your interpretation of your the image, Margaret, and the progression from 'Romance is easy to paint' to 'love's canvas a bit more complex'.

Gillena Cox said...

Luv luv luv the juxtaposition of real and fantasy.

much love...

tonispencer said...

I like how you progress from Romance is easy to paint to Love's canvas is a bit more complex...From first kiss to the last. A truly excellent ekphrastic poem Margaret. I like how you also showed the first picture and then the second picture with all the same colors.

Jim said...

It certainly is more complex. I know three couples who met and courted, mainly on the Internet. All three married and seem happy. The latest was at a wedding we attended last Saturday night, my grandson. He entered into a lady's Web site where the women asked the men. That was too help avoid many bad things happening to the ladies.
Thank you for your suggestion. It is now changed. I had a problem with that line, giving up, last night but I didn't flag it to change. Then a quick proof this noon before posting I missed it altogether. BTW, we sat a few rows behind the Bush couple at our Houston Miller Theatre for several years. We never had conversations but we did have courteous recognitions. They didn't say, "Oh you stay" when our elevator was cleared by the Secret Service for their privacy on the ride up (or down, they were up fairly close to the front in the main section. Isle seating.) And yes, Barbara will be the best and nicest First Lady we will serve under. We love to visit their Presidential Library, it is about an hour drive from our home.
..

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Thank you for the link to the wonderful article on Kandinsky – which also helps me more fully appreciate what you say in your poem. Even before reading the article, I very much liked the way your poem moves us from one style of painting to another (as illustrated by the paintings you've chosen).

Thotpurge said...

Complex indeed.. and getting more so with every passing day!! Wonderfully said!