UNDO THE ZIP
open
the view
A one-off was Barnett Newman
spectral closeness was his plan
He created the art of the zip*
two colours in a mural clip
*see www.poetrysoup.com/poem/declarative_unit_newman_zip_1675988
step up close-
undo the zip for an emotional trip
Standing in line at the DMV
Waiting to renew my license you see
I thought it would be easy as abc
But I didn't know they'd have a surprise for me
They said "You owe outstanding fines"
And told me I should have read the parking signs!
I said, "this must be a mistake"
They insisted that payment I should make
They said my license they'd suspend
Which irked me to no end
Soon the manager came
To solve the problem was his aim
He checked the computer then said to me
"Mr. Barrett you owe these fines you see"
I knew then my license I would get
Because my name is Barnett!
2-1-2022
DMV Poetry Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Matt Caliri
Barnett Newman 's work was so unique
step up close if colour you seek
in every painting a vertical zip
undo it,for an emotional trip
I'm Worthy, I am a Queen!
I'm Worthy, I am a Queen!
I'm a woman of freedom, I have a strength... That amazes me to believe.... I'm very worthy, he can leave... I'm worthy of my future that I see... I am worthy of life.... with my energy to fight... I'M worthy of a beautiful light... I am so worthy of what I need!... I'M SO MUCH HAPPY... OH MY GOD... I AM SO PLEASED!.... I AM SO WORTHY, GOD HOLDS MY DREAMS.... I am so worhty that I can breathe... I'm in heaven... I'm beneath my wings... My LORD, I'm worthy... I'm so relieved... My faith has been retrieved.... I'm worthy, SO praised.... I am worhty for being raised! I am worhty to say thank you LORD! MY PAIN IS RELEASED... I am worthy for what I have achieved... I am blessed... I'm as worhty as a QUEEN...!! My father, I am worthy that you are our higher supreme..
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Barnett Newman-
step up close,open up your view
O that you too could have sat their in awe
I see the human body thaw
From bright emotion into motion
When Sheila Barnett, that Nettleford so Rex
Curved and looped in sweet elation
Petals on wind, eyes camering context
From the stage of egg to chrysallis
This dance poised against memory still
A bead of dew, and dancers bliss
Distilled upon a frozen moment of will.
O they that I could explain more than cumina
Maypole memories or quadrille, the stamina
In the hunger to express
This nation's beauty, its struggling people content
In the glowing sweat of happiness.
The body's twirl of space is better argument
For life than all the sophistries of Kant
And the Heathen rant from Voltaire
To our prayerless hoardes. And the scant
Dress of form does cause a man to sit and stare.
We
undo
the zip to
open out the
view
Ekphrasis after Barnett Newman
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