David Kavanagh Poet Ekphrasis

Notes About The Poem

Ekphrasis on Album (or Single, Cassette, Vinyl) 
Cover Art Poetry Contest sponsored by Dilly Dally
03/15/25

Thinking about Nevermind!

Thinking about Nevermind!

Skinny dipping soaked in bleach, albino by design 
Eyes burning, -Something in the way- future gives a sign
No pacifier needed, when remuneration’s on the line 
Keep calm it’s just rehearsal, will sink lower another time 

Born too soon, umbilical’s frayed by a toothless bite
Lure instills urge to swim, bypassing baptismal rite
-Come as you are- take a breath, be sure to stay airtight 
Nevermind the grunge, it’s less dirty with a soul of white

Zero in on bait, the watermark hides a sell by date
Perhaps-stay away- not much change at going rate 
Don’t lose sight of legal tender, it won’t always sate
Take a breather, rest assured, if lungs don’t reinflate 

Swimming in circles chasing what is never truly ours
Set in ripples, a reflection of mankind’s weakest hour ?
The dollar breaks, revealing depths we’ve yet to scour
In the murk, no god we trust, just a bill we all empower

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I Am Anaya April 4, 2025 at 8:18 PM Congratulations! Like DD said what's not to like, David. This one should've come with a trophy, nothing like it and there aren't too many who don't like Nirvana . Cheers on your big win~ MORE!! David Kavanagh April 5, 2025 at 1:19 AM Thanks so much Anaya, it was a shared trophy experience, how grateful am I to still have Nirvana’s transcendent music and raw honesty in my headphones every day, cheers David

Ink Empress April 4, 2025 at 6:43 AM Dear david, I absolutely love what youv done here for the album cover of this, i am a nirvana fan, grew up crushing on kurt cobain! And as i read this, i hear his melody, cadence of his songs, in your well articulated lines. I wouldnt know how to interpret this cover as its a bit tricky! But i love the wisdom and truth woven in here, especially "Swimming in circles chasing what is never truly ours Set in ripples, a reflection of mankind’s weakest hour ?" powerful and profound! Congratulations on your well deserved top win! Pleasure reading this today. Sending you light David Kavanagh April 4, 2025 at 8:29 AM Hey Ink! You certainly are full of surprises, A Nirvana fan! You have great taste in music and guys, Kurt had every reason to be a superstar, but only seen himself as a skinny ordinary guy, I listen to Nirvana almost daily, and find their music and lyrics transcendent, my aim here was to capture the powerful imagery of the infant chasing after the $ bill, the rest just came naturally, as I am still heavily influenced by the grunge scene, thank you so much for the (rave review) and congratulations, I’m delighted with the placement in Dilly’s contest, cheers David

Trina Layne April 3, 2025 at 4:38 PM Congratulations David! Your writing on Nevermind provokes deep thought and introspection. David Kavanagh April 4, 2025 at 4:54 AM Thanks so much for reading and stopping by with congratulations Trina! Your kind review is most welcome! Cheers David

Lin Lane April 3, 2025 at 4:11 PM Congratulations on your win, David from someone whose poem was awarded second place. I’ll say it again in my best Southern accent, or three times for emphasis because it’s win worthy. Cheers! Cheers! Cheers! Lin Lane April 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM Lol. And you know it’s true because you’ve heard my voice! I always call em like I see em, David. David Kavanagh April 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM Thanks so much Lin, I was delighted with the win in Dilly’s contest, three cheers for your humbling comment, hey you don’t have a southern accent just a straight talking one which is always much more appreciated, cheers David

Gary Radice March 20, 2025 at 10:27 AM Great stuff David. And what an iconic album cover. What could be more depressing than a baby chasing the ca$h? Such is the material world we live in...and of course he’s still chasing it now as an adult. Watch out that guy who took his school photo, he’ll be coming after you next. I can actually imagine your poem sung in a grunge like manner. Just how my mind works. :) Cheers - Gary David Kavanagh March 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM Heya Gary, I actually wrote this piece with (Come as you are) foremost in mind, and it gave me that grungy lyrical feel I was after, yeah that guy is on his 3rd attempt of trying to sue for sexploitation, iconic and ironic, I bet Kurt knew he was onto something groundbreaking here with the cover and playlist. Thanks so much for stopping by, cheers David

Duke Beaufort March 16, 2025 at 5:47 PM David, I was not familiar with the album cover, but I could see it would spark a discussion. We do have a strange culture when it comes to green. Thanks!! David Kavanagh March 17, 2025 at 1:55 AM I think the green is one truth we are born into Duke, even if we don’t understand its all encompassing grip in our early years, the album cover expresses this quite cleverly, don’t get me wrong I do have a love/hate relationship with the stuff myself lol! Cheers David

Tom Cunningham March 16, 2025 at 3:45 AM Love your interpretation of the album cover David , I remember the controversy of that picture, I'm sure his parents didn't go without. Happy St Patrick's day for tommorow. Hope the rain keeps off for you. Tom David Kavanagh March 16, 2025 at 4:55 AM Strange thing Tom at the time in 1991 when the original photo was shot, the band were relatively unknown so $200 probably seemed a fair price! nobody knew how big the album would become which in turn immortalised the photograph, yep Paddy’s day tomorrow, another excuse to (drown the shamrock) from the dry indoors lol! Happy saint Patrick’s right back at you, Cheers David

I Am Anaya March 15, 2025 at 5:13 PM How true these symbols are. The cover one of the most enduring images in rock music, an infant Elden appears swimming underwater his eyes fixed on a dollar bill, sued for child sexual exploitation as we all know. Well-done-ekphrasis! GL David Kavanagh March 16, 2025 at 10:08 AM The man who sold the world, why not! we sell everything else, I did try link the lyrical quality and vibes from the album, then balance everything together with the photo, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out, thanks for the high praise :) I Am Anaya March 16, 2025 at 9:50 AM It is ironic isn't it, who'd know that would be his future? I love the lyric feel and how you used it, after reading again it is quite brilliant, David. You followed the Ekphrasis form and described what you see and not like others I've seen just about the band itself. At the least folks can get excited by your genius interpretations! "The Man Who Sold The World" Cheers! David Kavanagh March 16, 2025 at 2:14 AM Some uncomfortable truths here Anaya, what Nirvana was all about, the child in question Elden tried to sue without success on several occasions, in my opinion not for sexploitation, just for greenbacks, which in itself exonerates the album cover, thanks so much for stopping by, as not many on the soup will be familiar with Nirvana or lead singer and songwriter Kurt Cobain, cheers David