John Atkinson Grimshaw — “A November Morning” (1883)
S treet is deserted save for single sign of life
morning hangs heavy in chill november
as autumn tumbles towards winter
S he feels the losing of the light
the ever growing darkness
the advance of the cold
the time of endings
death’s due vigil
deep silence
dormant
sad
~
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
Nicely done, Rob. I love the way the poem is shaped, a vector pointing to the word ‘sad’, and the sibilance throughout adding to the atmosphere. I especially love the lines:
‘morning hangs heavy in chill november
as autumn tumbles towards winter’.
Thank you Kim! You picked up all the little devices I used. I’m pleased you enjoyed it my friend.
The light is certainly melancholy, and from having lived there, I know how cold and inhospitable it can feel.
That was the feeling I got from the image Jane, cold bleak harsh. It was also a beautiful painting in the way it depicted these feelings.
A beautiful response, Rob. One of your best, I think. I also really like the way it looks on the page with the two S’s the color of the leaves. (And I don’t typically like colored print, but this one has an old book feel.) Thank you!
Thank you very much Merrill. I was inspired by the diminishing lines of the painting, which I tried to mimic the shape of my poem. I also wanted it to be somewhat barren, and sad.
you blow me away sometimes, Rob, and this is one of those times.
~David
Thank you David I appreciate this very gracious words. It pleases me to impact a reader, especially a quality computer like you my friend.
Wow Rob that is just a fantastic interpretation of the painting and I love the form you have used <3
Thank you Angela, very much… 🙂
Powerful!
The ending illuminated the body of the poem, I like how it builds up to that sadness, I heard the sadness coming as I read.
Well done!
Thank you so much Latoya, I appreciate your Gracious words my friend… 🙂
An amazing poem. Love the form and the words capture the essence of the painting very well.
Thank you my friend… 🙂
There is definitely an air of melancholy to the painting that you capture with your words.
Thank you Kerfe… that is how the image struck me… 🙂
Hits like an arrow of sorrow, Rob. Death is such a heavy theme to write about, whether physical, seasonal or otherwise, but you more than do it justice. This poem could be interpreted in so many different ways.
Thank you so much Tanmay… 🙂
You captured the melancholic feel perfectly, Rob and the form looks superb.
Thank you Punam… 🙂