Gregory Richard Barden | + Follow Poet |
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For Stone To Swim

I, cold ... cold as stone ...
But is that not befitting such as I?
Once, merely common, hidden deep in the earth,
Still, my quality made itself known ... my porcelain perfection

Shone in the sun, and I was freed from Terra's grasp ...
Across a great sea I was rocked, carried in care
To finally, joyfully, go under The Master's hand.
I slowly, agonizingly, emerged from the cloud-white slab, pure ...

Brought forth into all glory and consummation!
Stone saw, chisel, rasp, cloth, and paper ... I stretched my limbs, reached my
Fingers and toes to the ether ... arched my back in a repose of death,
Laid upon an altar of mocked coral, draped only in my net -

The Pearl Diver's repository of all things glistening and wondrous!
Oh, what exquisite orbs, those that grace the net's seam!
White, pink, and black opaline gems - iridescent ocean treasures!
Miraculous drops of milky, nacreous moonlight, hidden in Neptune's gullet,

Awaiting their emancipation ... finally freed at the edge of the diver's blade!
But that, for me, is yet a dream ... I am but stone, after all ...
Be content, instead, to gaze upon my keen beauty,
I, the polished progeny of a sculptor's acumen,

I, the refined, glorious bloom of stone,
I, the ivory issue of marble elegance,
I, the bairn of a master ...
The Dead Pearl Diver.





~ 2nd Place ~  in the " ... And Now For Something Completely Different" Poetry Contest, John Lawless, Judge & Sponsor.

~ Honorable Mention ~  in the "Brian's Choice Q, Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.

( This is about the sculpture "The Dead Pearl Diver" by Benjamin Paul Akers 1858, currently on display at The Portland Museum of Fine Art in Portland, ME ... this was a personal favorite of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and he wrote about it more than once. This is an incredible sculpture, especially in person )

Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden | Year Posted 2020

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John Hamilton Date: 6/1/2020 9:24:00 PM Congrats G on another stunning write, it's so amazing to me your use of your vocabulary, not satisfied with one description of the work you used 3, refined glorious bloom of stone, the ivory issue of marble elegance, the bairn of a master...I mean...wowser man! Login to Reply

John Lawless Date: 5/30/2020 7:04:00 PM Greg, this one drew me in and held me under as I sank deeper into its darkest to rise as a polished pearl of art Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/30/2020 10:16:00 PM Thank you so very much, John, I am so pleased you found this worthy of placement, and I'm glad you enjoyed the read! Blessings to you and yours, my friend! :o)

John Watt Date: 5/30/2020 1:32:00 PM Back to congratulate you on your podium placement, Bard. I think I forgot to mention in my earlier comment that this got added to my faves. Your writes about art recently have really been exceptional. Best wishes, my friend, and do keep writing ~ John Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/30/2020 10:15:00 PM Thank you so much, John, for the fave and the return comment - blessings, my friend! :o)

Aditi Mishra Date: 5/30/2020 12:05:00 PM I love the complete journey of the vessel that once faced storms and was built in grandeur but then elegantly turned into a lifeless structure, yet depicting the phases it had seen. Congratulations on your splendid win Greg! :) Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/30/2020 10:14:00 PM Oh, that's very sweet of you, Aditi, and I thank you so much for the kind comments. Blessings to you, Dear Poet! :o) <3

John Watt Date: 5/26/2020 11:25:00 AM Stunning, Greg. I love the ekphrasis form; blending the physical with metaphysical, each medium uplifting the other. I loved your personification of the stone itself and its metamorphosis into the sculpture. I was grateful for the pic of the sculpture, so intricately formed. Well done, Bard, I expect this will do really well in the contest. ~ John Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/30/2020 10:13:00 PM Many kind thanks to you, John - as always, you have made the work worthwhile with your wonderful comments, and if I don't get around to thanking you for each one, please know that NONE of them go unappreciated, and none are taken for granted. Blessings, Brother!