Notes About The Poem

Ekphrasis On Monet's Water Lilies

Floating fluttering fleurs
are jewels in fuchsia and magenta
transmuting into taffy hue
with the kiss of dappled sunlight
like her cheeks that blush in pink
with his wondering wink.

The willows are stalactites 
seducing newly bloomed nympheas
slumbering in Egyptian blue water 
like her shaggy windswept hair
teasing her beloved's face
beneath the dancing moonlight.

Oh, Monet,
your 'en plein air' emphyrean elegance
awakens my sacrosanct senses 
as I envisage a Filbert brush
glazing each pearly petal
highlighting sun's luster
on emerald to lime leaves,
on cyan to admiral water,
reflecting cerulean sky
in consummate chiaroscuro. 





7 April 2022


A Briand Strand Premiere Choice Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand
8th place


Notes: 
In 1893, Monet, a passionate horticulturist, purchased land with a pond near his property in Giverny, intending to build something "for the pleasure of the eye and also for motifs to paint." The Water Lilies is a 1919 painting by impressionist Claude Monet, one of his Water Lilies series. The painting, the left hand panel of a large pair, depicts a scene in Monet's French pond showing light reflecting off the water with water lilies on the surface. 
(www.metmuseum.org)

*plein-air painting, in its strictest sense, the practice of painting landscape pictures out-of-doors; more loosely, the achievement of an intense impression of the open air (French: plein air) in a landscape painting(www.britannica.com).
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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

Kauffman Avatar
April 14, 2022 at 12:01 PM
Your skill is writing ekphrasis just sings in this lovely poem JCB. It evokes a sense of the serene and the tranquility of the gazing on the water lilies! Congratulations on this well deserved win! Blessings! Happy Easter!
Krutsinger Avatar
April 9, 2022 at 12:27 AM
Your words are more beautiful than the Monet if you ask me.
Alex Avatar
April 8, 2022 at 4:28 AM
Monet should be the master creator. Congratulations!
Dietrich Avatar
April 7, 2022 at 11:19 PM
Gorgeous imagery and I see you won a contest with it. Big congrats. Well deserved.
George Avatar
April 7, 2022 at 8:43 AM
This is a fabulous poem ! Monet might not have dreamed that such a beautiful poem would emerge from a poet seeing his painting . The last stanza is indeed a marvel of beauty ! Congratulations on your great win, Jez !
Rodrigues Avatar
April 7, 2022 at 6:51 AM
Just how beautiful this is, JCB! a fave! Love that first and third lines, the stalactite reference and all the colorful imagery and lovely wording! So well done! Congratulations! A fave!
Ray Choudhury Avatar
April 7, 2022 at 5:24 AM
Congratulations, JCB, on your fabulous win. This poem took my breath away - to my faves. Love ~ Mala
Buehler Avatar
April 6, 2022 at 8:19 PM
JCB, the images in this beautiful verse are exquisite. I enjoyed reading it very much. Blessings
Brul Avatar
April 6, 2022 at 8:22 PM
Thank you Evelyn for your appreciation. More blessing to you.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace