Crowd of entertainment, chapeaux and gowns, of Renoirs,**
not unlike the expansive midnight sky brimming with stars.
Capture of long ago memories, like lightning bugs in jars.
Knee deep, flood high - boxes of snapshots…our memoirs.
Whimsical caricature of a lifetime - chameleon avatars.
Oft’ one changes seasons capriciously, jumping boxcars.
Fading into the sun and moon - visible and ultraviolet scars.
The Johari window opens and shuts - scrapbook is all ours.*
Perspective of us, composite flashing blades, spars.
‘til we are bathed in heavenly light, much of us behind bars.
10/6/2022
SINGLE STANZA MONORHYME
Sponsor - L Milton Hankins
Used rhymezone
*Johari Window has four quadrants. 1) Our “open book” we share with everyone 2) Things we know but hide from others 3) Our blind self - what others see but we do not 4) Things hidden from both us and others
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johari_window
**chapeaux - hats
Alabaster staircase framing chandeliers
Picassos, Renoirs, Van Goghs lining the walls
Marble floors, dazzling in the starlight
Polished perfection staging the Night
Dainties, delicacies, tray after tray
Sweetmeats, exotic fruits, more on the way
Debonair men in their tuxes emerge from limousines
Women goddesses wear sequined gowns, leggy queens
Playboys, playgirls of the Riviera making the scene
Jealousy left wondering what it all means
Laid back over oarlocks,
arms akimbo, hat slouched;
slow riding the Loire.
The river pushes
into a bobbing place
a sylvian picnic
where female bottoms convene
in soft repose.
Iridescent thuds, a thrashing of fins.
A large trout flops in the gunnels.
Wide lips, mouthing Gallic obscenities;
the rainbow splashing
of a disgruntled fish.
The rowboat rolls, rights and recovers.
Upon the shore
bottoms rise like plump geese
from green lawns.
The fish sneers,
flips a glowing Gauloises
between thick lips.
Full-figured forms rise
to watch the watery fuss
then shrug
as more wine is poured.
The trout jumps into the river.
Parasols open and twirl.
We all smile behind our hands
as Renoir paints on.
RENOIR’S REDFOX
Fall’s raven-black hat
highlights her redfox-wool locks —
the xanthous sun leaps
from the buttery bouquet
twinkling in the atmosphere
10/29/2019
Albert Barnes, who grew up poor,
Became extremely rich
And had the means to buy some art,
Which satisfied an itch.
He bought Cezannes, Renoirs, Monets,
Picassos and Matisse
And mounted all upon his walls
As numbers did increase.
He wrote a will with lots of terms
About his precious art;
The public could come twice a week
And that was just the start.
His paintings weren’t to be moved
Or loaned to anyone,
But since his death, financial woes
Meant trouble had begun.
A legal battle did ensue;
The artwork all was moved.
In spirit, Barnes was honored;
A new building was approved.
And thus I got to see this art
His trustees seemed to save –
A treasure trove unparalleled –
While Barnes rolls in his grave!
(Barnes Foundation Museum in Philadelphia)
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.