Best Michelangelo Poems
I told him we were broken, the way
horses can be, and he galloped through
the sentence like a cowboy, less a
heart. I loosed the biggest word I could
think of – so enormous I felt everything
in me squeeze back as it passed by
and nearly choked as it pushed
its way into the outer world -
and he brushed it aside like
errant dandelion snow.
By then, there were at least
four voices within me, ranting,
and the image of myself throwing
buckets of paint against a wall
was blinking repeatedly in my head.
And still he was talking –
with his hands gesturing, gesturing -
talking about places he’d been
talking about what he thinks himself
passionate about
talking about what he learned
in counseling
and talking
talking,
talking
about
nothing.
When he got to Italy, I stopped him
at Michelangelo, thinking, “here! –
here finally is a scaffold we can
throw ourselves off of”. Thinking
if Einstein’s wardrobe wasn’t enough,
if a scrawny white boy singing
the blues wasn’t either and if the
most interesting thing I said that night
was that I never ever set a clock
to an uneven time (and I hadn’t even
said that yet)… maybe the image of
an artist suspended in air with
his heart pointed to heaven
and the myriad of thoughts
that must have run
like a river through him as he
stood there, arm outstretched,
might trigger something.
But, he had no idea that
Buonarroti was a poet
or that he honestly expected
Moses to speak
to him once freed
from the confines
of stone and of
artist himself,
he said
nothing.
Apparently, he was more
Moses than Michelangelo, and
it was all I could do
not to take
a hammer
to his
knee.
Categories:
michelangelo, art, hope, life, people,
Form:
Free verse
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
His old hands are firm.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
Tiring position.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
Youthful fervency.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
No matter his age.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
Plenty of colors.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
Magic miracle.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
Will last forever.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
For billion of eyes.
Michelangelo
Paints the vault of Sistina.
Beautyful dream.
(if the reader wants to see the wonderful Sistina Chapel has to follow the link
http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html )
Categories:
michelangelo, art,
Form:
Haiku
The Deposition by Michelangelo
He could not stop once he began the work
Of shaping a most painful scene in stone
For the whole world to see and remember
Hoping they will feel what he felt so strong
Jesus, His life offered as sacrifice
Sorrow filled eyes of those who had been there
Haunting dreams invading his sleep at night
Feeling deep inside, the pain and despair
And he knew it had become a mission
To bring to life in marble, his vision.
It must have been a Friday quite chilly
For the bodies of those carrying Him
Are covered from head to toe heavily
Yet just pieces of clothes are seen on Him
Perhaps awkwardly placed around in haste
By Mary Magdalene or His mother
Agony written all over her face.
Yet clearly perceived upon their features
I see traces of their love for Jesus
Not escaping those of Nicodemus.
Nicodemus, a man who knew the Lord
Devastated by the horror he’d seen.
Michelangelo worked the marble long
Shaping the pain stricken face of his dreams
Taking a step back, had carved his own face
Had seen himself help the crying women
Take down Jesus’ heavy and lifeless frame.
Dropped his tool, overcome with emotion
Unable to continue, kneeled down to pray
Left it unfinished; “The Deposition”.
By CarolineCecile
Copyright © 12.14.09
Note: This is the first time I write in the Ekphrasis form, so I am not sure I have done this
right, but I did want to challenge myself to write. Please feel free to critique and make
suggestions where it needs improvement.
Also, the third verse, line 5 and 6 came from my imagination. I do not know if the face of
Nicodemus is Michelangelo's, but somehow I felt compelled to write that.
Thank you for reading, Caroline.
Categories:
michelangelo, artpain, write, life, write,
Form:
Ekphrasis
Love and Grief
_____________
The love of mother and son depicted in a marble statue,
the Pieta, said to be the most beautiful in Rome to this day;
no corpse could be more life-like- no mother more sad,
it resides in St. Peter's Chapel- behind glass.
So elegantly beautiful,
the face of Mary unfathomable and tender;
the veins and bones of Christ,
wonderfully worked.
Divine the feelings- I feel . . .
The virgin draped in a huge cloak;
with the dead Christ on her lap- his body limp,
her right hand supports his upper body, gaze lowered,
his right arm, hand and foot dangling . . .
Nearly naked, Christ lies in the folds of her cloak;
lovingly she holds him in death,
her face etched with compassion.
Grief so beautifully carved,
amazing the artist;
his name carved in the fastener of her cloak,
Michelangelo Buonarroti . . .
____________________
May 6, 2017
Verse/Art- Michelangelo
Copyright Protected, ID 898394
Written for the contest, Celebration of Art
sponsor, Kim Rodriques
First Place
Categories:
michelangelo, art,
Form:
Verse
Two renaissance artists . . .
Leonardo Da Vinci created enduring works during his lifetime,
too many to list but perhaps the most well known is the Mona Lisa.
Born April 15, 1452 and died May 2, 1519 at only 67 years old.
Considered the greatest painter of all time. Born out of wedlock.
At 14 he apprenticed with a master and soon was more skillful,
and at the age of 20, he was a master himself.
Michelangelo Buonarroti also created amazing works in his life,
one I love is the Pietra, so lifelike it makes me want to weep.
Born, March 6, 1475 and he died February 18, 1584, an old man.
His skill as a sculptor and painter is famous, and always loved.
The Sistine Chapel, his statues, his frescoes are stunning to view.
At 13, he too apprenticed with a master and soon was skillful,
and went on to be a master artist.
There was a public battle Leonardo vs Michelangelo and their art,
David vs Mona Lisa. There was 2 years of public competition.
A huge man who stands with a grimace vs a sitting woman smiling.
Even before this they were rivals, hated each other, jealous of each.
The loser left crossing the Alps to sulk in France taking his painting,
today she smiles at her fans, like a star to be idolized by the public.
And Michelangelo's works are treasures he left with us forever.
There was such an intense dislike between the two artists always,
but really they were so similar.... perhaps it WAS all jealousy,
because I have read they were both a bit odd.
_______________________________
July 7, 2016
Epic
For the contest, Historical Rivalry, Part 1
Leonardo vs Michelangelo, sponsor, Marugu Mo
Sixth Place
Categories:
michelangelo, art,
Form:
Epic
Genesis 1:26-27
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created man in His own image.
-Holy Bible- 21st Century King James Version
Depicting God as an old, bearded man, as if the images created are carved.
Paint on wet plaster when light diffuses, chance of deterioration is halved.
God’s creation of Adam, the very first man, where separation of sexes began.
As if the images created are carved, depicting God as an old, bearded man.
God’s finger to give life to his spirit, an act depicting the start of mankind.
God having made man in his own image, a perfect human form defined.
Adam reclined but their fingers are not quite touching, but very near it.
An act depicting the start of mankind. God’s finger to give life to his spirit.
So adept in creating human form, the artist shows elegance with strength.
In his mural, he sculpts figures with paint, across its breadth and length.
The inspirational sense of power and yet love due to creation is so warm.
The artist shows elegance with strength, so adept in creating human form.
Categories:
michelangelo, bible,
Form:
Quatrain
Michelangelo and Leonardo both painted a fresco.
Said Leo, “I’ll paint it after I drink my expresso”.
The result was “The Battle of Anghiari”,
And the Italians ooh’d and they ahh’d like it was a Ferrari.
But it faded from view in a decade or two,
So today no one knows what Leonardo did do.
Now Michelangelo climbed up onto his scaffold
And painted the ceiling of that Vatican chapel,
Which can be viewed still to the present day.
And since, as we said, da Vinci’s faded away,
Faded since he painted in an experimental technique,
One might say that the ceiling won the battle, so to speak.
(Sept. 5, 2016; Revised Sept. 8, 2016)
Categories:
michelangelo, art, history, humorous,
Form:
Narrative
My profound admiration for Michelangelo goes
beyond the Renaissance genius that he was;
humanness on humble faces out of norm,
seeking their Creator with a human form!
I envision him on his back painting nudity
on the high ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as hot sweat
dripped from his forehead...did he anticipate any threat
in exposing the beauty of the human sexuality?
Out of Carrara white marble, he carved those life-like sculptures:
David with his muscular was one of his best creation! Amid
war and bloodshed, his spirit shone while his hand chiseled and painted;
wealthy popes and kings hired him to embellish their palaces and churches!
What driving force made him accomplish such masterpieces
so timeless and beautiful? Was his faith, passion or events that inspired
him? I'm astonished by them and lose myself in them as many have for ages...
taking a journey to an era when literature and art flourished!
.
Categories:
michelangelo, art, beauty, courage, faith,
Form:
Rhyme
It took Michelangelo
To find where David was hidden
In a chunk of rock,
To chip and scrape away
All that was not the shepherd king.
It took Michelangelo
To find the finger of God
By placing on
The sameness of a ceiling
Those blends of particulars
That made Adam.
It took Michelangelo
To find a mother grieving,
Holding her sacrificial lamb,
Entombed in stone,
Awaiting resurrection
In hands and eyes.
Categories:
michelangelo,
Form:
Free verse
Leonardo and Michelangelo
GRADE 3 – ART CLASS
TEACHER! TEACHER! LEONARDO TOLD ME I SHOULD GO PAINT A CEILING.
6/18/2016
Categories:
michelangelo, humor,
Form:
Monoku
MICHELANGELO -an art phrasis
High renaissance of a pieta piece,
marbled sculpture of our Lord.
Santa Sopra,tactile touched.Frescos,
paint bright, fresh as yesterday.
Stupendous works of art,
suspended above,in space.
Multifaceted mastercraftsman
gifted by God's grace.
Phrasis of Michelangelo
You may hear me recite my phrasis on youtube under my pen name ichthyschiro.
Categories:
michelangelo, art, christian,
Form:
Verse
He painted frescos,
He sculpted out of marble,
And wrote poetry.
Categories:
michelangelo, art, education, history
Form:
Senryu
News alert: Graffiti rampant on Piazzo del Poplo 1500,
“Da Vinci smokes pot to get high”
“Michelangelo’s a young upstart teen, can’t paint for crap”,
Was a graffiti reply.
For the Da Vinci vs Michelangelo contest
Categories:
michelangelo, humor,
Form:
Rhyme
Michelangelo Buonarroti
at thirteen
pen to paper drawings
showed great talent
and as an apprentice he acquired
basic fresco skills
he studied space
and the human body anatomy
he was poor
but brimming with energy
and ambition
and was introduced to poetry
and wrote poetry also
he loved carving
bringing life to his sculptures
I adore his Pieta
no corpse could be
more life like
it is said
reliefs on wood
the Sistine chapel
frescos
tomb carvings
oh, the last judgment divine
and so much more
Michelangelo
died
weeks before
his 89th birthday
and is buried in
his home town
of Florence
that was his wish
__________________
July 19, 2021
Poetry/Bio/Michelangelo
Copyright Protected, ID 07-1374-163-19
All Rights Reserved, 07/21/2021
Written for the Standard contest, A Brian Strand July 20
sponsor, Brian Strand, Judged 07/21/2021
First Place
Categories:
michelangelo, art,
Form:
Bio
Her frustration was so absolute
Ambiguous yet so resolute,
She seemed like an analogy
Of what she was and what she’d be,
So sated with the modern world
Yet other days her dreams unfurled
Into such ancient muted grace
Where moonlight shone upon her face.
Her pages scattered golden song
Dripping from birds strung all along
Soft whispering wooded alleyways
Like milestones to her dream cast days,
Frustration easier wrapped in hope
Sometimes she felt she couldn’t cope,
For dreams were not concerned with speed
More likely with her given need.
And on a morning long ago
She rose and watched the summer glow
While dreaming of the future’s lands
As she reached out for her sister’s hands
In rhymes of time their fingers met
Before the final sun had set
In a Sistine chapel afterglow
Soft shades of Michelangelo…
Categories:
michelangelo, beauty,
Form:
Rhyme