Big THANKS to everyone who has been reading and commenting on these poems! I can feel my enthusiasm starting to wane (it's a long month!), and your encouragement really helps! Mwah!
Today's piece is "Riders on the Beach at Dieppe" by Rene Pierre Charles Princeteau.
A long time horse lover, I have vivid memories of my father taking me to the races when we I was wee and we lived in New Orleans. I loveloveloved the Black Stallion books (and the film) -- maybe that's why I was drawn to this picture? Also, my sister and I had dreams: I would train a horse and she would be the jockey and we would win the Kentucky Derby!
I am particularly drawn to the horse in the middle. I knew right away I wanted to somehow give that horse a voice. (Hey, I'm a middle child... I often feel for the one in the middle!) Although I did get distracted for a little while thinking what I might do in the voice of the beach.... but ultimately decided the middle horse had my heart. (I'll save the voice of the beach for some other poem. :)
Irene, I love how your words capture the latent motion in Princteau's painting. A perfect pairing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful image! I would like to see it in person. I can imagine your poem would be great as a poem-starter with kids -- they could relate to the difficulty of fighting your urges for a greater good.
ReplyDeleteI rode for lots of years, and you've captured the feeling beautifully, Irene. My horse hated being 'behind' another one, & she wasn't even a racing horse! Love the 'prance &paw, snort & shake"-such energy in that stanza!
ReplyDeleteOh, I remember this feeling - just seeing it in the horses as my children rode. And waiting...again! This time with a big goal and big dream. I love seeing your themes emerge and thank you for the reminder to think about this as I am doing so over with my project too. Beautiful pairing. xo
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ReplyDeleteTHE WALK
ReplyDeleteWe cloppity clop
On faded tufts of natures
Receding hairline.
There was a verbal
Kerfuffle earlier on,
Our new friend, silence.
Whispers of wind tries
In vain to encourage us
To apologize.
Stubbornness remains
Victorious until I
Let out a whinny.
Each sibling chuckles
At my inside joke –
Tension drifts away.
(c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.