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.
I can see each scene through the voice of the narrator, delighted that she puts herself into the picture. Thank you, too, for the recording!
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful poem left me quite emotional ~~ everything about it spoke to me. Thank you,
ReplyDeleteGosh this is incredibly breathtaking, Margaret and I loved hearing you read your poem aloud!💖 Especially like; "dreaming of a lover's kiss,
ReplyDeletenot wanting to miss gazing at the moon, penning his soul." Thank you so much for writing to the prompt!😍
I love how much of the portrait is about how it affects you... taking off your shoes, what a great tribute to music
ReplyDeleteOh, you make us see him! Beautiful, a young man starting on his magical journey. I love the ending, where you dip in a toe! We are never too old to dream, or to have an adventure.
ReplyDeleteDaily dreaming is essential to our being human.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful it is to get contentment from seeing another enjoying it as well showing how we can live and love our lives if we only try. Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteI like the thought of offering one's voice as a gift to the sky.
ReplyDeleteDreams fill him daily- I envy him that... I enjoyed this so much. Even more because I just posted my first soundcloud recording on my blog yesterday!!
ReplyDeleteNicely drawn Margaret. Somehow playing guitar was always a way to sing to my mother, to the sea, to the beloved somewhere across the waters. And there was an invitation to it, to come test the waters, be freed.
ReplyDeleteI love the musicality in this poem - and the sense of watching somebody interesting who makes every day a little bit special
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful imagination and I love the vivid descriptions. I can just picture this artist “penning his soul“.
ReplyDeleteThe repetition in the guitar strum and the waves crashing over and over again are a great symbol of everyday life. I also like seeing the hope in the young at heart, at least that is what I saw here. Rob
ReplyDeleteSuch a delightful feel...so vivid!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful portrait Margaret. Very well written.
ReplyDeleteYour poem has a cinematic quality, Margaret, and the opening stanza is atmospheric. I love the way he is ‘Silhouetted against the sinking sun’ and the different ways you imagine him: in the subway and ‘gazing at the moon / from small apartment window’.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful imagery and reflection — your word pictures paint both the scene and the person in such a tender and evocative manner. Very well penned!
ReplyDeleteA superb image created by your very well painted poem and illustrated word usage...A lovely time captured...
ReplyDeleteSo vivid, Margaret. I can see him standing in front of me.
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