Notes About The Poem

Originally published: 14th May 2022


'Gas' is a 1940 oil on canvas painting by American artist Edward Hopper (1882-1967)


Edward Hopper: Gas

where is the back road
that passes this place

- a gas station refuge
between nature and night

and who is the man
with the half hidden face

working / existing
in ethereal light?
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022


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

Date: 3/13/2023 5:44:00 AM
Love the simplicity and peacefulness of the painting and your questions that prompt the reader to realize that this and every piece of art has a background story. - Gail
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 3/13/2023 10:50:00 AM
Thank you Gail. I love the atmosphere Hopper evokes in his paintings. Cheers - Gary
Date: 6/30/2022 12:24:00 PM
Good work describing the painting. It looks like a lonely existence doesn't it. I wonder was it so for him. Thanks for dropping by. Sara
Login to Reply
Kendrick Avatar
Sara Kendrick
Date: 7/15/2022 7:13:00 AM
He probably was glad to have the job and maybe at times enjoy some peace and quiet. Sara
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 7/1/2022 12:32:00 PM
I imagine it was Sara but I bet that he liked it that way anyway. Cheers - Gary
Date: 5/31/2022 8:01:00 AM
Your words paint a picture to match the one by Edward Hopper. I wish you would write more. Have a great/blessed day writing away......................
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 5/31/2022 8:39:00 AM
Thanks so much Paula. I love Hopper's work. So much so that in addition to this and "House By The Railroad" there is a third Hopper poem I wrote "Nighthawks" (8th March 2022) here at PS. I appreciate your valued support. Cheers- Gary
Date: 5/22/2022 7:04:00 AM
Hi Gary, Believe it or not, Hopper is my second favorite painter of all time. I love the desolation of his work. Your poem captures the imagery of the painting very well. Good job, and good luck. --Bryan
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 5/22/2022 11:56:00 AM
Hi Bryan. Thanks for your great comments. Hopper is a superb artist - probably my own favourite - I'd love to know who your favourite artist is. :) Cheers - Gary
Date: 5/18/2022 8:28:00 PM
Gary, congrats for completing your Hopper trilogy. Your poetic tone captures the artistic tone so well on all three. You are clearly an aficionado of fine art with the poetic mastery to pull off such an ambition. The contrasts are what strike me most about this work: loud red against subdued green; civilization against nature; bright against dark; man against machine, day against onset of night. And yet another isolated human subject. Your emphasis is stunning in capturing that essence in its brevity and unanswered questions. Well done, my friend. You are an asset to this site ~ John
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 5/19/2022 9:02:00 AM
John, thank you so much. I must say that your beautiful use of the English language when describing Hopper's work has blown me away. You are truly an art aficionado yourself. I'm blown away by your final remarks too. They make this hobby of mine feel all the more worthwhile. Cheers - Gary
Date: 5/15/2022 3:36:00 AM
Oh my Gary……your poems are often full of such intrigue and are so beautifully haunting. You have a gift of being able to pen the perfect words for a picture! I remember your bus stop in the middle of nowhere poem…..one of my favourite poems ever! The poem and picture stayed with me as it was so simple but so captivating! Just lovely….Debx
Login to Reply
Watt Avatar
John Watt
Date: 5/18/2022 8:29:00 PM
Gary, I'm happy to see you have re-posted the bus stop!
M  Avatar
Deb M
Date: 5/15/2022 9:21:00 AM
What a shame Gary that was an amazing poem! Debx
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 5/15/2022 8:27:00 AM
Thanks Deb. I play around with my poems - too much sometimes - I deleted the bus stop poem but it will make another appearance sometime in the future with a small amendment. Cheers - Gary
Date: 5/14/2022 10:02:00 AM
There is a sense of isolation here that is almost haunting. I love your interpretation so descriptive, Gary.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 5/15/2022 12:51:00 AM
Thank you Milt. By all accounts Hopper wanted to paint a gas station with its lights on but found it difficult to find any as - during the Great Depression downturn (29 - 39) - many stations kept their lights switched off for financial reasons. Not too dissimilar to today I suspect Cheers - Gary
Date: 5/14/2022 4:46:00 AM
You captured the painting well in your verse Gary, the only thing missing is the tumbleweed. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Tom
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 5/14/2022 4:48:00 AM
Thanks Tom. You know, I reckon you could add tumbleweed to many of Hopper's works to signify the loneliness, remoteness and isolation of his subjects. Have a great weekend. Cheers - Gary
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter