Day Six: Ekphrasis

Day Six of NaPoWriMo.*

Today’s prompt asks us to
“write a poem from the point of view of one person/animal/thing from Hieronymous Bosch’s famous (and famously bizarre) triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights.”

I used a different painting, Franz Marc’s “The Fox” for my poem, but with the same concept of using the subject’s point of view.

Here goes:

foxes

Outfoxed

As cities crumbled in disrepair,
we watched from forest shadows,
not understanding what forces cause
a species to implode.

As flora died in poisoned air,
we retreated into denser woods,
left to fathom such machinations
that place greed above survival.

With no place left to seek reprieve,
we huddled amidst brambles,
hiding from blind ignorance
that sought to take our lives.

And then the whole world shattered
into a million pieces.
We raised our heads to face our death,
and instead were met with

blue skies free from factory smoke,
waters clear as young fawns’ eyes,
fish emerging from the depths.
plants burgeoning in replenished soil.

We snuggled in comforted embrace
as nature reassembled,
as order rose from chaos
under Gaia’s healing eyes.


*National Poetry Writing Month, Day Six. Ekphrastic poetry

A Photo I Wish Didn’t Exist ~ Repost

I am reposting this important photo because the original post cut off the message of the photographer, Justin Hofman. Please read his comments below.

justin hofman

This photo was posted by photographer Justin Hofman on Instagram, with permission to share.

Justin writes:

“It’s a photo that I wish didn’t exist but now that it does I want everyone to see it. What started as an opportunity to photograph a cute little sea horse turned into one of frustration and sadness as the incoming tide brought with it countless pieces of trash and sewage. This sea horse drifts long with the trash day in and day out as it rides the currents that flow along the Indonesian archipelago.

“It’s a photo that I wish didn’t exist but now that it does I want everyone to see it.”

~ Justin Hofman, photographer

“This photo serves as an allegory for the current and future state of our oceans. What sort of future are we creating? How can your actions shape our planet?

“Thanks to @eyosexpeditions for getting me there and to @nhm_wpy and @sea_legacy for getting this photo in front of as many eyes as possible. Go to @sea_legacy to see how you can make a difference. ”


 

A Photo I Wish Didn’t Exist

justin hofman

This photo was posted by photographer Justin Hofman on Instagram, with permission to share.

Justin writes:

“It’s a photo that I wish didn’t exist but now that it does I want everyone to see it. What started as an opportunity to photograph a cute little sea horse turned into one of frustration and sadness as the incoming tide brought with it countless pieces of trash and sewage. This sea horse drifts long with the trash day in and day out as it rides the currents that flow along the Indonesian archipelago.

“It’s a photo that I wish didn’t exist but now that it does I want everyone to see it.”

~ Justin Hofman, photographer

“This photo serves as an allegory for the current and future state of our oceans. What sort of future are we creating? How can your actions shape our planet?

“Thanks to @eyosexpeditions for getting me there and to @nhm_wpy and @sea_legacy for getting this photo in front of as many eyes as possible. Go to @sea_legacy to see how you can make a difference. ”


 

waiting for rain

w warning

When Ark Two must launch,
who on Earth gets to decide
what stays and who goes?


W  W is for waning world .

#AtoZChallenge: 26 posts in April, topics to proceed alphabetically. Theme optional. 

My theme: a three-line poem each day (5-7-5, haiku form) with the first letter of each line the same as the letter of the day.