Jan Allison | + Follow Poet |
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Girl with a pearl earring

I’m struck by the stark contrast
of her image
which leaps out
against a black background

Meeting the gaze
of her piercing blue eyes
I find her so beautiful
much more alluring than the Mona Lisa

A colourful teal and gold turban
hides her tresses
perhaps giving emphasis
to a solitary pearl earring
which skims the collar of her gown

Her enigmatic expression
hides a secret

Parted ruby red lips
are poised
as if to speak
yet,
they will never reveal her identity

Copyright © Jan Allison | Year Posted 2024

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David Crandall Date: 7/18/2024 6:38:00 PM Nice take and description of The Pearl Earring. That's a good question. I wonder what she is about to say? Login to Reply

Linda Alice Fowler Date: 6/15/2024 6:56:00 PM Precious Jan. She's not ready to be exposed. :) Login to Reply

Jack Horne Date: 6/5/2024 7:01:00 AM Ah, so different to the limericks that I usually head straight for - so glad I read this thoughtful piece, my friend x Login to Reply

Sam Kauffman Date: 6/3/2024 1:43:00 PM Hi Jan! I just knew this would be a winner when I first read it! While I love your humor that brightens my day, this poem exposes the pearl of your more serious writing abilities! High fives, dear friend! Congratulations on your win. Keep them coming! Hugs and blessings! Login to Reply

Eileen Manassian Date: 6/1/2024 6:02:00 AM Very well done, dear. Both your poem and the painting great works of art. Big hugs Login to Reply

Joseph May Date: 5/30/2024 3:10:00 AM You describe this work of art well Jan, Best wishes in the Contest Login to Reply

Sam Kauffman Date: 5/29/2024 11:20:00 AM Really wonderful, Jan. This is exquisite poetic expression. If this is for Craig's contest, best wishes. It is wonderfully written. I think you have captured the mystery in the expression of the girl. Blessings and hugs. Login to Reply

James Peranteau Date: 5/27/2024 6:26:00 PM p.s. jan, mine aspire; even az the young man, haz been, "to be the proud listed "caretaker", on the provenances uv any "oil" uv Johannes Vermeer...eXspecially uv this oil! Ohhh, you have made mine day dear poet! Login to Reply

James Peranteau Date: 5/27/2024 6:07:00 PM my precious poet; az the many who are captivated by the amaze uv Mona Lisa, i, the works uv "Vermeer's" oil medium! Likewise, hiz adore uv the feminine. Hiz muse's were in the strokes uv their quills{my believe}'side, if you see, their beauty. If 'they' where in sight uv hiz brush and canvas, 'he' wuz in their sight, lisping uv he 'pon their slips. ;) oh yess, several uv hiz oils were uv the feminine writing. p.s...an artist's greatest werks are from experience ') (though he may have used hiz daughter az the model uv "the girl with the pearl earring", I have the artist's intuition that he did so hiding true from hiz wife, likewise adultery wuz a prison sentence back when! le poete fait un clin d'oeil....much love Jan ') Login to Reply

Victor Buhagiar Date: 5/25/2024 1:55:00 AM Johannes Vermeer has inspired my poems on this famous painting. Mona Lisa has her allure too. But to each, his own. Login to Reply

Arthur Vaso Date: 5/25/2024 1:02:00 AM Loved this poem Jan! Login to Reply

Paula Goldsmith Date: 5/24/2024 10:21:00 AM I enjoyed reading your lovely write for a lovely painting. Both Are Great.... "Good Luck" Have a great day/weekend..................... Login to Reply

Kim Rodrigues Date: 5/24/2024 6:33:00 AM I guess this could have been listed as an ekphrasis also. I love your apt description. You emphasize the portrait in a way that draws more attention to each detail. (fyi…my sis now has your book…I also gave her Robert Gorelick’s pet limerick book…she works so hard and I think both books will relax her, bring her much laughter…she loves humor and I often thought she should be on stage) Hugs ~ Kim (Faving your poem) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 5/24/2024 7:07:00 AM I hope you had a peek at the book too Kim! I am working on the second one now - my heart isnt on soup, so many wrongs that admin don't deal with, especially system errors when you try and enter a contest. I have re classified it as ekphrasis - thanks for your advice:-) hugs jan xx

Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/24/2024 6:13:00 AM Dear Jan, How captivating! The word you create brings the enigmatic beauty of the painting to life, evoking a sense of intrigue and wonder in me. The way you dig into her expression and the hidden depths within her gaze is truly mesmerizing. Your words have a timeless allure, much like the subject of the painting itself. Brilliant work. - Blessings, My Friend, Daniel Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 5/24/2024 7:09:00 AM Thanks Daniel, I thought I would think outside the box for the contest, it is such a wonderful painting, i saw it many years ago on a visit to the Netherlands, the contest was the only one that inspired me to pick up my pen:-) hugs Jan xx

Ilene Bauer Date: 5/23/2024 1:14:00 PM it is a beautiful painting, jan, and you've captured her so well in this poem... Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 5/23/2024 1:43:00 PM do look out for the film it is compelling watching not least because it stars Colin Firth lol:-) hugs jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 5/23/2024 12:56:00 PM - Perfect description... best wishes in the contest, Jan :) - hugs Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 5/23/2024 1:42:00 PM thanks Anne- Lise:-) hugs jan xx

David Kavanagh Date: 5/23/2024 12:37:00 PM A Vermeer how splendid Jan, I agree she looks a lot better than Moany Lisa, way overrated imho, I wonder what the secret is she hides, I best not go there lol! A fine piece for the contest, cheers David Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 5/23/2024 1:42:00 PM its a wonderful painting David, not sure if Craig will like my take on pearl but so be it:-) hugs jan xx