Portraits Poems | Examples

Portraits in the Dark

I sat with the plant leaf again,
its veins straighter than mine.
The bus ride had ended. Manila steamed.
My shirt, still full of your smell,
even though you hadn’t come yet.

The blinds were half-closed
like eyelids in anesthesia—
and I traced shadows with my pen
pretending I was writing payroll,
but it was always a eulogy.

The dust in the corners of the cubicle
was not debris.
It was proof of my stillness.
Proof I had not been seen.
Proof I was human.

Somewhere a neon ad shouted skin whitening,
but I was already transparent.
A ghost who had filled in timesheets
and cried into broken staplers.

You would come one day.
Not as a lover,
but as a mirror
sharp enough
to open the mouth of the soul.

Portraits on the wall

Portraits on the wall,
some grand, some small,
staring at the people,
sat around the table,
portraits on the wall,
ego show for all

in silence they stare,
look back if you care,
at disjointed thoughts,
from bygone hearts,
faces deadpan bare,
each behind every chair.

the walls sweep around,
from top floor to ground,
chandeliers and fireplace,
speaker phones, flower vase,
those portraits in the hall,
don't say much at all!

every few years a new one,
of the president just done,
adding to stares one more,
extending history and lore,
the friendly, the grim,
mix with bright, wise, and dim.

faded memories from past,
wonder how long they last,
Portraits grow each year,
their number cause for fear,
will stay or will they fall?
one day bring down the wall?

Written about a 100 year old establishment
that puts a painted portrait of the last president
on their walls.

Small Town Portraits

Lives of residents collaged
as their portraits hang
from a gallery’s ceiling
and spotlight shine
upon their faces.

They are old
they are young
they are boys and men
they are girls and women

these people who have called
a small Iowa town
their own.

Some have posed
in fields
some by their houses
and they frown or smile
their faces offering reflections
of the lives they’ve known

but in their eyes, I see
reflections of the many lives
I’ve lived as I stroll 
through the gallery.

My memories stir inside
a deep affection of quiet drives
through the countryside
and past this quiet town.

Once when I stopped
for a pizza
a light shown upon
the face of a girl at the counter.

    lights shine like stars
    on small town people
    living ordinary lives

PORTRAITS ekphrasis

PORTRAITURE

profile
with style

The Portraits

At the museum, the portraits are hung
Of presidents, staring ahead,
A few of them still drawing breath, but by now,
Most have been, for a lot of years, dead.

Some I studied in school, some I knew not at all,
Others served while I have been alive
And the artists’ depictions were varied in style,
Though to capture the truth, they did strive.

In the midst of all men, just one woman appeared -
It was Eleanor Roosevelt, but why?
Not a president, true, though my fingers are crossed
She’ll have company yet, by and by.

Portraits Of Life

Rainbow has many colors
Just life is blend with dark and light
Happy and gloomy moments, yet
We thank God for the blessing we receive.

Roses are red and pretty, yet
It has many thorns attach to it
Just life is blend with hope and glory
We thank God we survive each day we live.

Road is clean and pave, yet
It has many crossroads and avenues to take
Just life is blend with decision and option, yet
We thank God we're able to cross finishing line safe.

Lost Portraits

I painted portraits of you in my heart
till' dark clouds allowed pouring rain to fall
washed away paintings hung that fell apart
to leave my heart's chamber an empty hall
my love for you held portraits that I hung
now a darker place with its vacant walls
where my love's dust becomes a wormwood dung
when love died slowly in pain-filled thralls
this chamber, this hall, now a silent place
that's shrouded by a darkness of morass
when vanished portraits left a lonely space
where doors are closed and no one may trespass
For all my painted portraits I will weep
When I find them in my dreams when I sleep

Positive Portraits

Seasons like emotions fade away.
Where poisonous rain once
blistered susceptible surfaces,
now sapphire skies showcase the saffron sun,
silently soothing somber scars.

Yesterday was a vacant colouring book.
Today is a kaleidoscopic canvas of colours,
illuminating every blank page.
Rainbow rivers stream through my veins,
as eyes paint in positive portraits.

Pen flows like exotic fruit juices,
blending sweet smoothies.
Essence of fruit salad zest,
liberates from a coconut mind.
Psychedelic pineapple heart,
nurtures my mango soul's serenity.

Sentimental sun rays embrace,
soaking warmth deep inside.
Happiness is tranquil like a
pleasant fresh ocean breeze.

Pixilated Portraits

Drowning in foolish beliefs;
Pixilated portraits falling off
Corroded walls;
Blank canvases pervaded by
Grainy brush strokes,
Billowing amidst scattered flickers of
Crumbling structures,
Ambling in blighted stillness.
Venturing to find equilibrium in
This cryptic world,
Stranded and abandoned,
Layered upon a
Pillar of empiric darkness,
Glazed in meaningless semantics.

Portraits a Freed Verse

PORTRAITS
composite
  unanimous
elated
& dumbfounded
overwhelmed
completely
surreal
yet
exciting
 conveying
 a sense
 of
performative
persona

 introverted
 &
 private
 together
that  subvert
convention
distorted
representations
 imagined vaguely
fragmented
translucent
& figurative

an atmosphere
 of
movement
&full of
 storyline
 accompanying
  the
skewed

Portraits On the Wall Poetrix

Ancient forgotten portraits on the wall
     seem to conspire with time:
        growing age together!

Portraits In Porcelain

flush with excitement
she grasped hold of the handel
water music, ah!


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to Melani Udaeta's The Poo Poo Poem, hoping that this too shall pass...

Pretty Portraits of the Past- Automatic-Surreal

Gazing upon memories  

Lined and hiding on the shelves 

Streaming tears and lost in reveries  

The forlorn beauty of one’s past-selves  

 

Pretty portraits of the past  

From the days of black and white  

A child’s smile unsurpassed   

The absolute was in the light  


[2018]

Emotion Portraits

happy 
          feel lifting gifts arrive shining golden bright days  ...
          striking steel brushes create a pain-hued Monet ...
depressed

Unfinished Portraits

The church is a hospital for sinners
And not a hospice for saints
As we are all unfinished portraits
That God must continuously paint
As none of us are perfectly complete
Still works in progress  
We're just striving and trying
To do our very best
And as we stand in awe of He 
The One who dwells above
Let us never forget His grace
And indefatigable love

Let our hearts, minds and spirits be uplifted
By Your heavenly hands
Let our homes of faith be built on solid rock
And not sinking sand
So heal us on Lord 
color in our blank space
Strengthen us to handle
Any difficulties we may face
For we are unfinished portraits
Perched on the easels of life
Waiting for You to stain us
With the Sacred Blood of Jesus the Christ

• Short Portraits Poems
• Famous Portraits Poems
• Best Portraits Poems
• Read Portraits Poems
• Long Portraits Poems
• Portraits Quotes