Home » Poems » Di11y Da11y » Chair Car - Edward Hopper

Chair Car - Edward Hopper

Poet's Notes

(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Di11y Da11y.

exposed and heart beating, in the quiet of the hum. every thought bounces off the walls, ricochet, causing my stillness. nothing beyond this space, inertia tells me so. when it's all too neat, we can't make a mess. maybe the height of the ceiling will absorb my excess. let me travel, leave behind judgemental eyes - not far from here I'm freed, to be lost within the comfort of the words, "it's all ok...," sink into the peacefulness of acceptance. there's a truth so plain, it's framed in light, and it's the fact there's nothing wrong. yet I move along inside this container, never experiencing a breeze. one day, I'll relax my shoulders. there will be a place to rest my head. "there's nothing wrong," I tell myself. I could get off any minute and walk.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Gary Radice

Date: 12/12/2024 12:55:00 AM

What could have been a straightforward description of a painting from the outside looking inwards by a less skilled poet becomes something much more here D D. Are you speaking as a character in the painting or does the painting speak of you? It works so well. Hopper’s themes abound..ethereal light, other worldly strangeness, alienation. I’m also wondering if the lady reading a book is Josephine Nivison Hopper (his wife) who sat for some of his paintings. She was a great artist in her own right. Cheers - Gary

Di11y Da11y
Date: 12/12/2024 1:05:00 AM

You're a star Gary, thank you :) I try and get the vantage point of external viewer of self and talk from both within and outside of the painting - though evidently still trapped in the paint. The great thing about Hopper is that tension of the moment - it could springboard into a lifetime of similar moments or "Get out of Dodge" revelation. You almost want to snap the characters out of their trance. I appreciate your kind comment, thank you

Ink Empress

Date: 12/11/2024 7:22:00 AM

Dear dd, i dont even know what to say regarding this poem, i feel exposed reading this, haha, because it resonates so much! And thats how you always capture the attention of readers in such a soul stirring manner! I absolutely love the lines “ one day, I'll relax my shoulders. there will be a place to rest my head. “ thinks in this world where everyones struggling to keep up with everything, so many feel drained, and i think thats a very common feeling shared by us all, ans you have delivered that so well here! Impressive how you interpreted the artwork! I think this is a new fave for me! Love it! Sending you light always

Di11y Da11y
Date: 12/11/2024 12:01:00 PM

Aww no wonder I'm building my biceps - it's carrying all these faves haha :) thank you so much for your thoughtful and supportive comment - much appreciated x glad you liked it :)

David Kavanagh

Date: 12/11/2024 3:08:00 AM

Hera Dilly, I don’t think anyone is getting off this most peculiar (art deco car) perhaps it’s heading through purgatory, you keep saying there is nothing wrong, but I sense foreboding in your words and in the painting, which you excellently interpret as always, cheers David

Di11y Da11y
Date: 12/11/2024 11:59:00 AM

Thanks David, who knows if it's possible to get off. All seems quite well sealed. Ended up looking up purification of souls upon reading your comment - wondered whether the teacher at primary school made it up that the dead need prayers to move on - turns out it's there in the bible. I'll meditate on the power of prayer then :)

B.J. Fitz

Date: 12/10/2024 4:03:00 PM

Omg this just struck a chord with exactly how I was feeling just now. Very real and relatable, and I particularly love "maybe the height of the ceiling will absorb my excess". Thanks for sharing!

Di11y Da11y
Date: 12/11/2024 12:03:00 PM

Nearly all my art knowledge is from the last two years since I've been writing poetry. Never too late to dive into culture :)

B.J. Fitz
Date: 12/11/2024 6:32:00 AM

That would be very cool perhaps generative art could assist lol, btw I didn't google who Edward Hopper was before when I first read this but thought that this image reminded me of the painting "Nighthawks"...im not very cultured evidently lol.

Di11y Da11y
Date: 12/10/2024 11:47:00 PM

Thank you for your enthused comment - I appreciate it. Edward Hopper was a master at capturing oppressive environments. It would be great if the painting (and the mood) could be flipped over to reveal the impact of even subtle changes. Maintaining the status quo isn't always as peaceful as it looks.