[Stylist] April 9th poem

[Jackie]

Barbara,
Your poem almost made me cry the first time I read it. I do not know exactly
why because I did not understand it. But I liked the short, and mixed line
length, and the stark power of it. I have listened to all of the comments
now. I am particularly glad that you referenced the ecfrastic nature of it,
and your son's illness, and the modality of the pictures. 
I agree with the comment that it was wonderful conversation starter. Again,
quite different than your usual kind of poetry.
Thank you so much for sharing.

Jacqueline Williams

Clarity is just questioning having eaten its fill.
     Jenny Xie


-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barbara
HAMMEL via Stylist
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2020 6:03 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Cc: Barbara HAMMEL <poetlori8 at msn.com>
Subject: [Stylist] April 9th poem

I am doing the 30 poems in 30 days challenge and thought I would share with
you my today's poem. It was to be an ekphrastic, which means a poem that is
inspired by a piece of art or a sculpture. Usually I write highly structured
poems so this free verse poem is an oddity in my collection. And, I realize
it could have a better name but I'm putting the theme word in all of the
titles. 

THE EKPHRASTIC SCREAM
by Barbara Hammel

When I first learned about you
I thought you were a crazy man
Standing alone
Head thrown back
Mouth wide open
Arms thrown out
I had no understanding of paint

Then one day I met you
On a bigger piece of cardboard
Sewed in different textures
Standing alone
Hands over your ears
Mouth open wide
The world is too much
People are walking away
I know you now

I have held you in my arms
Rocked you
Swung with you
Heard you scream for endless hours
An ear-piercing shriek
Hands covering your ears
People walked away
The world is too much
Yes, I know you

 
 

Barbara Hammel
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