Lady, or: The snows

An ‘Arkquain Swirl’

white
trimmings
bright against
snowy landscape;

sumptuously clad
graceful Lady of the Snows;
understated coy smile knows
she's untouchable;

floral fur-trimmed
cape and muff
offset
her
scarlet
beribboned
brimmed fancy hat;

watery wintry
wastes draw away to allow
her between bent laden boughs
as she floats through them;

blood circulates
close to the
surface
of
refined
fine cheekbones
flushed like red dress;

heavy horizons
welcome home native daughter;
untouched by weight of waters
she absorbs the scene;

knowing pools dark
unblinking
take it
in

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Twiglets #309

the weight of water

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#TankaTuesday

For Tanka Tuesday today, Colleen Chesebro offers an ekphrastic challenge, encouraging writers to compose syllabic poems inspired by George Henry Boughton’s ‘The Lady of the Snows’ paint (to the right).

I decided, once again, to write an ‘Arkquain Swirl’ poem.

Last time, I entirely forgot (ack!) that this form requires every pair of seven-syllable lines to rhyme; but this time I was careful to follow the rules!

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Arkquain Swirl?

• Syllabic (34 lines): 1234 ~ 5775 ~ 4321234 ~ 5775 ~ 4321234 ~ 5775 ~ 4321;
• Every pair of seven-syllable lines rhyme

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Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!