on a wing and a prayer

11 Jun 2026 Leave a comment

by lynn__ in ekphrastic, Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

An ekphrastic poem inspired by Tweetspeak’s Creativity Cafe…

children, dreams, and
butterflies quickly flutter by
(bye bye!)
uniquely created,
bold flashes of color
with bright eyes,
soft bodies,
and alert antennae
stretching, reaching
as they fly higher
(how high?)
warming wings in sunshine,
growing stronger in moment
yet delicately designed
emotionally fragile
perfectly asymmetrical
(if you look closely)
and we wonder…
will they become
butterflies drinking nectar
or moths seeking the light?

Five Butterflies by Odilon Redon, 1912

whimsy on brick wall

06 Jun 2026 Leave a comment

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , , , ,


Inspired by online poetry class with John Sibley Williams.

______________

Living flames of cypresses
leap upward as evergreen branches
swirl like burning driftwood.

Even Vincent’s baby blue
skies curl with playful energy
trying to escape lemon peel moon,
which already took a bite from cotton
candy cloud floating above wave
of distant mesa’s high water.

Saffron grasses dance freely in
summer breeze while polka dots of
wildflowers and juniper berries
sprinkle scene with a childlike joy.

Cypresses by Van Gogh, 1889

resting place

04 Jun 2026 6 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , ,

The Mulberry Tree by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

______________

Bury me under the mulberry tree;
mark my grave with granite stone.
I will lie in tree’s long shadow as
it grows gnarly wild above me.

See leaves of heavenly glory gold
shimmer against bold azure skies
and know that I am finally home
where day or night will not matter.

Hear sound of snow-melt waterfall;
listen to memory of my laughter.
Be refreshed by hope of reunion
and do not fear coming darkness.

______________

Ekphrastic poetry inspired by online class with John Sibley Williams.

ruminations

20 May 2026 7 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , , ,

______________

Circle of life in world of death
as fruit of tree links food chain.
Survival served by stewardship,
sustainability, not envy or greed.
But blood be shed in streets if
village values turn upside-down.
Milked by politics, compromised,
church not shocked to repentance.

_______________

Melissa hosts dVerse poetics with ekphrastic poetry inspired by art of Marc Chagall. My poem based on his oil painting, “I and the Village”, 1911.

the space between

12 May 2026 15 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , , ,

______________

remembering the
daughter she never knew;
today is another anniversary of
the day she was removed…
from her womb, from her life,
but never from her mother’s heart.

asking questions like what color
are her eyes? does she look like me?
wishing she could hug her girl
and ask for forgiveness;
who knew? a mother died too.

______________

Linking to dVerse poets where Punam invites us to write ekphrastic poetry inspired by Indian artwork.

tracks left in snow

27 Feb 2026 6 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , , , ,

https://dversepoets.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/img_5101.jpg
Hushed and Still, by Simie Maryles

if one perceives seasonal reality
if quiet arts calm mind and heart
if home means safe, warm shelter
and human connection a treasure

then dress for frosty winter weather
then admire neighborhood palette
then follow soft street lights home
and unleash wet dogs among family

restore acceptance of nuanced story
restore healthy, hopeful imagination
restore refuge from shadows of chaos
and do not neglect brother or friend.

Lillian hosts open link night with dVerse Poets…

will bearded lady sing?

16 Jan 2026 8 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , ,

This week the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case about transgender men in women’s sports but the lawyer could not define a woman legally. In a Senate hearing on abortion rights, a senator questioned a female doctor if men can get pregnant and she could not answer yes or no.

beauty in diversity exists;
does not require extremism

but confusion and chaos
reign in rainbow la la land

where scientists cannot
define a man or woman;

logic is left lying in dust,
basic biology debunked.

gender?? pretend it’s fluid…
while culture drowns in

silly sea of semantics;
riptides of asexual revolt.

denying reality doesn’t
make dreams materialize

confused youth deserve
compassion, not reasons

for mutilation; tell us why
“trans” suicide rate is high?

Linking to OLN with dVerse poets were Lillian hosts with ekphrastic prompt. Painting entitled “Mme Kupka among Verticals” by Frantisek Kupka, 1910-11.

I find the online stories of detransitioners like Chloe Cole, Christina Hineman, Prisha Mosley, and Lex Renick very compelling.

influencer in his studio

17 Sep 2025 11 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , , , ,

An ekphrastic poem for dVerse poets pub where Merril features Monet’s “The Studio Boat” (1876) on display at Barnes Museum in Philadelphia.

______________

i get the impression…

claude is quite familiar
with rivers, at home in
boats; mesmerized by
lily pads, bridges, and
play of light on water.

monet’s a mirror master
who had ripple effect on
the currents of art history
but who knows if he’d prefer
painting plein aire to fishing?

if we’d float in a houseboat
together, wonder how long
i’d reflect your expression?
motionless yet emotionally
framed as impressionistic.

life bursts forth

10 May 2025 16 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic, list poem Tags: , , , ,

Ready to Burst by Bonnie Ferrill Roman

_______

women-only
need apply
superpowers
unmatched
desire match
ovaries ready
and waiting
full of eggs
moon tides
to cycle
ebb & flow
for release

love-fest
fertilization
leads to
journey of
countdown:
nine months
forty weeks
three trimesters
time to ripen
to prepare
body & mind
for reckoning

life-giving
fire of birth
purify & refine
focus on process
breathe deep
pant shallow
death grip in
overwhelm
of nature
to push
human life
for delivery

_______

Linking to Mom With a Blog…

idyllic daydreams

06 Sep 2024 22 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic, sonnet Tags: , , , , ,

“Boys in a Pasture” by American artist, Winslow Homer (1836-1910)

______________

last lazy summer day in pastures green
one week of freedom before starting school
stiff grasses tickle, prickle calloused feet
noon sun shines hot but breezes gently cool

two cousins sit together amiably
companionship does not require words
they watch the cows while clouds float easily
from distant trees, they hear the caw of birds

they dream a pirate’s dream on desert isle
of treasure buried deep beneath the sand
although there’s no high seas for many a mile
boys can imagine sword fights on dry land

covered by straw hats, long hair falls in curls
time’s brief, as young minds soon will follow girls

_______________

An ekphrastic sonnet linked to W3 prompt at The Skeptic’s Kaddish.

pi in the sky

19 Jul 2024 2 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , , , ,

life…
we’d like to
wrap it neatly
in a tight ball of
colorful yarns; the
stories and scenes
we’ve experienced till
now…but it seems that
no matter how hard we try
the numbers are indecipherable
and unresolved ends fray out loosely
yet… there’s an inexplicable order to the chaos
and the total effect of our threads is beautifully woven.

Digital artwork titled “Pi, the never ending nebula” by Shaharee

ekphrasticly me

17 Jul 2024 19 Comments

by lynn__ in ekphrastic Tags: , , , , , , ,

Linking with poets at dVerse hosted by Melissa LeMay and featuring the amazing art of Alma Thomas!

i must radiate
from cool core soul
like blue mud ball of heavy
clay saturated then evaporated into wet
rings rippling outward with smooth swirling moves that break through purple
barrier of fearful insecurities
with unique inner energy ignited by spirit’s heat. which pulsates bright music
of love and creativity to touch and enhance other lives with beauty and joy!

Alma Thomas, The Eclipse (1970), Smithsonian American Art Museum.

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