Charlotte Puddifoot Poet Ekphrasis

Notes About The Poem

Undergrowth with Two Figures

(after the painting by Vincent Van Gogh)


Does she even exist? Doubting her own reality,
seeing herself vanishing in undulating undergrowth,

fading and merging into summer-scorched scenery.
But cold lurks there beneath shafts of sunlight, the phallic trees...

He wears the night underneath, a fabric of dark and unease,
his hand heavy upon her arm, silver-tongued charm

smooth as the silver-limbed leafless trees,
disappearing, now, on a twisting breeze...

Sinuous stems suffocate, writhing and thrashing;
convulsions of shuddering green and yellow.

Enticed ever deeper into flailing flowers,
evanescing into foam of frothing flora...

Did she ever truly exist? It's doubtful.
The flower-frail faceless and nameless

will always be lured and laid, invisible,
dissolving, under bare, phallic trees.

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thriveni c mysore February 23, 2025 at 12:17 AM congratulations on POTD dear poet. unique. three cheers!!!

Kim Rodrigues February 19, 2025 at 5:16 AM Wow, Charlotte! Fantastic and emotive imagery! A chill surrounds the painting as you write! applause…applause. Congrats on POTD!

Terry Miller February 19, 2025 at 12:45 AM Back with more congratulations

Susan Ashley February 18, 2025 at 7:28 PM Dear Charlotte, I’m delighted to return with double congrats for your exceptional poem’s success in DD’s contest (though I think it should have placed much higher) and for its recognition with POTD honors (so glad both our Van Gogh poems enjoyed this distinction). It’s wonderful to share the contest podium with you as well. I salute you, my dear poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Terry Miller February 18, 2025 at 2:54 AM Congratulations on POTD and a great contest entry

Brandy Nicole February 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM ' He wears the night underneath, a fabric of dark and unease, ' while she is ' vanishing in undulating undergrowth. ' This is deep, dark and descriptive, my dear friend. A very unique way of viewing the characters within this painting. Congratulations Charlotte, on Poem of the Day. My best to you. Hugs, Brandy

Hilda Greenhough February 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM Congratulations on POTD. Your ability to put this van Gogh into words is amazing.

Paige Hind February 17, 2025 at 10:22 AM Congrats on POTD! Well-deserved. This poem is masterful, :)

Arlo Parker February 17, 2025 at 10:11 AM Look at this talent on POTD display!!!!

I Am Anaya February 17, 2025 at 9:48 AM Congratulations on Poem of the Day, Charlotte. Van Gogh has left me beffuttled how there middrifts section appear unclear. "does she even exist? " There was someone, he did razor off his ear for her, sadly . We can only wonder who the two figures are. Haunting. Enjoy your day!

John Lawless February 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM Well, Charlotte, having never seen the painting i am awed by the picture you painted on the canvas of my mind. amazing write..."flailing flowers", "frothing flora", "phallic trees". Metaphoric marvels begging the reader "come hither"....

Daniel Henry Rodgers February 17, 2025 at 5:24 AM Dear Charlotte, Wow, your words are hauntingly beautiful, taking me on a journey the way you intertwine nature with the psyche, such as how the undergrowth suffocates, creating an almost surreal, dreamlike terror. I just love your imagery; silver-limbed trees, frothing flora, phallic shadows. A very Van Goghian world where beauty and menace dance together in a hypnotic, unsettling waltz. Congratulations on POTD, truly mesmerizing. Winter Blessings My Dear Friend, Daniel

Beryl Edmonds February 17, 2025 at 1:58 AM Congratulations Charlotte on receiving poem of the day for your wonderful Ekphrasis poem, a great take on the painting by Van Goth - Undergrowth with two Figures…. Beryl

Zyrool Gifford February 17, 2025 at 1:51 AM Hello Charlotte, congratulations on your POTD win with this beautifully written poem. Well deserved. Wishing you a wonderful day and a great new week ahead.

Anne-Lise Andresen February 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM - Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., Charlotte :) - Beautiful poetic description - GL in the contest :) - hugs

Christuraj Alex February 17, 2025 at 12:52 AM "He wears the night underneath, a fabric of dark and unease", "Did she ever truly exist?" - A very grand writing. Congratulations!

Karen Jones February 17, 2025 at 12:34 AM Congratulations on potd! Good job!

Arlo Parker February 16, 2025 at 11:13 AM Evocative piece. An interpretation is obvious and then not so much. Should definitely be a top 3 placement!

Paige Hind February 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM I am faving this, too. This is a masterpiece on this piece of art, poetess. It's so haunting - it's haunting me... thanks for sharing.

Susan Ashley February 15, 2025 at 9:44 AM Dear Charlotte, absolutely breathtaking! The rich depths your dark, oppressive, creative verse takes me to is beyond compare. Game over with this fantastic piece that leaves me just shaking my head in awe of your immense poetic genius. A big fav! Love it Love it! Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan