A QUIET EARRING POETIC FLOW
Quite sun
shining,
Quite green leaves
waving;
Quiet ears
ringing:-
In the silent
night,
Ears ring
quietly
to themselves:
Echoing
to me:-
The ears
continue
To ring
in profound
silence,
Echoing life:
When will
these echoes
reveal
Wisdom
and understanding?
Ringing
silent ears;
Let us give
thanksgiving praise
For echoing life:
Without quiet
ringing,
Would we be
in this loud world?!
Let us
be happy;
Wisdom and
understanding,
Quietly
ringing out:
God speaking
all languages;
Streaming all
our ringing ears:-
Wow, what
an amazing brain:
Quietly ringing
opened ears:-
Ears not only
hear all music,
They also quietly
play theirs:-
Just as children catch butterflies for their specimen books, in 1665, Johannes Vermeer captured the image of The Girl with a Pearl Earring, and, in 1770, Thomas Gainsborough caught the soul of The Blue Boy. In 1922, the youths met at an exhibition in the National Gallery in London. Listen:
Have you wondered if logic would allow
a soul to be ripped from “the here and now”
to fly like spirits in dreams or faintings -
or when a torn canvas is two paintings
pledging a silent wedding vow?
On either side of an elegant room,
stood two attractive figures once snatched from life's bloom
by artists who'd turn to oils and flatten
a boy in blue satin
and a girl in Dutch costume.
Said the boy, "Miss, with the pearl on your ear,
won't you join me in my painting here?"
Said the girl, "I'd love for us to be a single work of art,
and you already have my heart.
It would be so lovely, dear...
but, a couple, we can never be.
We're meant to live in our own beauty;
and though, each other, we have chosen,
in cruel time and space, we're frozen,
torn from life by fate - apart for eternity".
The ring, with elegance and grace,
In sparkling gold finds its place:
Crafted carefully and designed,
With a little flower well aligned.
The petite ring with charm untold,
The tiny flower, with petals unfurled,
Hangs like a little swing so light,
For a fairy to hover and alight.
Like stars that dance across the sky,
Bringing sparkle to every eye,
A symbol of love and endless grace—
As it decorates this child’s face.
A reminder of dreams in flight,
A grandma’s gift, a ring so bright.
Personifying many tales
Of her dear love, that never fails!
So let it dance and let it swing.
This delicate, pretty little thing.
The golden swing that gently sways,
Bringing joy in its whimsical ways!
Copyright ©2021 by Crystal David John
My lighted island,
Hidden somewhere behind the red rocks,
Somewhere between the jingling of bangles
As I reach out to you.
My lighted island,
Lies behind the rusted walls of the blue city,
Among the trembling of my long earrings.
My lighted island,
Winks at me from the colors of the bustling market,
I find it in the strong scent of fish,
In the muffled noise that swallows us whole.
My island,
Is the color of my skirt’s folds in the wind,
Imaginative as a dance,
And warm as mint tea.
Whenever I stare at you, you also gaze.
You have beautiful eyes; I'm amazed.
Words cannot convey the turban's grace,
Its presence adds to your beauty's embrace.
Your bright face, your sparkling eyes,
Your fancy pearl, your charming smiles
All are attractive, all are impressive,
All are simple, all are amazing.
But, Maria, whispers linger,
Making you seem untouchable.
Whispers stay,
Saying you're deceitful.
Yet, Maria, despite the whispers,
No matter what the rumor’s tale,
My loyalty to you shall never fail.
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
a look of love-
into eternity's mirror
GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING
by Johannes Vermeer
I am covered
In shades of light
An exotic dress
In gold and white
An oriental turban
In blue and gold
And a pearl earring
That shimmers bold
Lips parted
As if to speak
Bright eyes turning
To take a peek
Who are you
Who capture me?
A simple girl
I'm your tronie
In a fleeting moment
I turn my head
My eyes are wide
Words are unsaid
My intimate glance
Has caught your gaze
And you brush your strokes
Gripped in a daze
24th April 2023
Excerpt by : Kahlil Gibran
And in the summer heat the reapers say, "We have seen her dancing with the autumn leaves, and we saw a drift of snow in her hair."
As the sun began to drop in the sky
the angels fell forward to watch her sleep
In her mind a cloud resided, a sigh
where once a thought of fertile seed did leap
She dreamt of her missing earring and wept
upon a cloud nine prop of downy smell
and as her trembling hands erased and swept
all concepts and images went to hell
I've seen her dance with the autumn leaves, my Claire
and watched a drift of snow upon her hair
But as Dementia settled in I knew
I'd miss her smile, her laughter, and her too
beneath the bed a missing pearl well loved,
inside the sheets, a girl that I dream of.
July 4, 2022
Atop my mirrored dresser are earrings,
and many pretty pairs are on display
along with necklaces and other things.
I love my jewelry but oh, one day!
I saw a lovely pair had lost one mate!
Pure sapphire was the set. I almost cried
to see just one remained. What was the fate
of that lost gem? To look for it, I tried.
I looked beneath my feet and all around.
Years passed. One sapphire earring sat alone,
I felt its match was never to be found.
A cleaner cleaned our vents and found the stone!
It somehow showed up in a hallway vent!
That lost earring no more do I lament!
June 28, 2022 (true story!)
for Joseph May's One In Five Poetry Contest
Nobody knows I have it
But I know it’s still there
Your earring in my pocket
Let’s me pretend you care
You left it just the other night
I found it on the floor
Your earring in my pocket
Gives me hope that there is more
It’s just a little thing
It’s not part of the plan
With your earring in my pocket
For a moment I’m your man
I dream we love each other
And that we’ll always be
Together until the end of time
You say you’ll be with me
Nobody knows I have it
No one would understand
With your earring in my pocket
In my heart - I am your man
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Co-written by Gail Brown
Entry: "One in Five" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May - June 28, 2022
(2)
The husband said, “I must confess
my car is a horrendous mess.”
He knew his wife could not ignore
health hazards. She would do this chore.
She offered, “Take my car to work
while I clean yours.” He wore a smirk
as off he drove. I’ve got ‘er trained,
he thought, and she has NOT complained!
That night he found his car half-clean.
He growled, “What have you done between
the time I left and now? She said,
“Look what I found.” His face turned red,
“You found your earring! I’m g-glad,”
he stammered. “Why are you so mad?”
She countered, “NOT mine, as you know!
To us, you’ve struck a grievous blow.”
He begged her for a second chance.
“I promise I won’t even glance
at others.” She said, “This would be
for you at LEAST chance number three.
“My third chance?! NO! I cheated once,”
he vowed. She screamed, “You’re such a dunce.
Last month your car smelled like cologne.
Pack up. Get out. Leave me alone.”
June 21, 2022
entered in the One in Five Contest Placed 2nd
Sponsor: Joseph May
Mesmerizing pearl
Exquisite timeless jewel
Balanced harmony
Enchanted luminescence
Canvas beauty for all time.
Johannes Vermeer: The Girl With a Pearl Earring
Image by Robertwaghorn pixabay
That pensive look on her sweet face
Just like a child of mine.
Her eyes seem to follow you with
Dominion that's divine.
Northwest light on soft blush hued cheeks
Her grey-green eyes lay bare
Perhaps a secret rendezvous
In enigmatic stare.
Wet lips stained as if with cherries
Delft blue scarf hides her hair...
In penchant blossom of her youth
Portrait of beauty rare.
From her left ear hangs gracefully
One solitary pearl.
Melancholy hints, she may be
A woman, yet a girl.
May 3, 2017
Note:
Johannes Vermeer's 'Girl with a pearl earring'
c.1665 Mauritius Museum, The Hague.
The Dutch artist was born in Delft in 1632-1675.
One of the key paintings in Vermeer's oeuvre,
this portrait resists all attempts at the precise
identification of the sitter. It's charm, perhaps,
lies in the fact that it is an evocative expression
of timeless female beauty. I viewed this masterpiece
in 2009. She has the entire wall to herself.
A hidden treasure
shiny and gold
underneath my pillow
almost a perfect circle
once hanging
from a lovely earlobe
on the gypsy lover
that came and went with the moon.
The wind has brought me
her name this morning
I recall the blue and gold scarf
that draped her shoulders
apple-blossom cheeks
bright red lips slightly apart
affection waiting to love
my gypsy lover with golden earring..
This symbol of such beauty
when the light bathed them
they had a sort of twinkle
elegance and grace
adding to her loveliness
mimicking in a strange way
this piece of her left behind
Perhaps she will return to retrieve it
my heart awaits!
~ ~ ~ ~
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