Saturday, April 25, 2015

ARTSPEAK! Poem #25 "Beach Speaks of Boys"

Hello, and welcome to day #25 of ARTSPEAK!, my Poem-a-Day Project for National Poetry Month 2015, in which I am writing from images found in the online collections of the National Gallery of Art and focusing on dialogue, conversations, what does the piece say? 

Today's piece is "Four Boys on a Beach" by Winslow Homer.

When I started writing this poem, I thought it would be cool to put it in the pier's voice. So I played around with that for a while... pier as sentry...but I just couldn't get the intimacy I wanted. So I switched the POV to the beach itself.



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6 comments:

  1. Amy LVApril 25, 2015 at 6:34 AM

    "puppy-roll"
    "play-punch"
    that ending...
    What a sweet beach; I feel like I get to know you more each voice you take on.
    xo

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    1. Irene LathamApril 25, 2015 at 4:39 PM

      Thank you, Amy! Having raised these three puppy-boys just might have a part in this poem. :)

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  2. Linda BApril 25, 2015 at 8:40 AM

    The picture in those gorgeous brown tones seems to help you take on a kindly feeling, the beach chuckling at those boys, daring, tumbling, being alive. I love the "puppy-roll" too Irene, and the camaraderie of the last line. Thanks for a beautiful poem.

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    1. Irene LathamApril 25, 2015 at 4:38 PM

      Thank you, Linda! The way those kids are bundled up, I think it's very likely winter... which might be a nice direction for the poem. I love beaches in winter! xo

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  3. RamonaApril 25, 2015 at 10:13 AM

    I like to imagine the painting when I see the title. This was totally different from what I expected. "They come in packs". . . and then all those wonderful "p" words to explain them. "Puppy roll on my sandy shoulders," a delightful line!

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    1. Irene LathamApril 25, 2015 at 4:37 PM

      Ramona, I love that you approach the post in this way, with your own imagination! I would LOVE to read your poems on the same paintings! Thank you for visiting... having raised a pack of puppy-boys, it's no wonder where the beach gets its voice. :)

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