Hello, beautiful readers! For this week's #TankaTuesday Weekly Poetry Challenge, Colleen Chesebro has given us a painting to inspire us. It is the Portrait of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw by John Singer Sargent.
Her eyes drew me in first. She appears to be looking right into your soul. But it was the tilt in her lips, and perhaps a look from her left eye, that inspired my poem.
I chose to write a freestyle poem and added a Shadorma at the end. A Shadorma has six lines with a 3-5-3-3-7-5 syllabic pattern with no set rhyme scheme. It also has a title.
Misperceptions
Because I am wealthy, you think me
Privileged
Traipsing carefree with nary a worry
Adorned with silks and satins
Enjoying teas and cakes and laughter
Among friends
Because I am beautiful, you think me
Elegant
Skin as fair as snow
Hair as rich as a starless night
Head held regally so all can enjoy my allure
Because I am a woman, you think me
Delicate
As fragile as porcelain
Needing to be coddled and cared for
Too naïve to make choices for myself
Dependent
Because you think
And do not know
You continue to placate me
Providing me a life of ease and comfort
Of wealth and power
But I am ready to take the reins.
~o~
Deliverance
posh lifestyle
high society
he owns her
controls her
arsenic is all it takes
heiress gains freedom
What do you see when you look at this picture? If you want to try your hand at writing a poem about it, click here.
Does she look as sinister to you as she did to me? I'd love to hear from you below.
Oh, I love these! Yes, she is definitely ready to take the reins. You took this farther than I did. I couldn't get past the discomfort I felt imagining wearing that dress, so I didn't even go after that facial expression. Brava! (and bonus points for the arsenic)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Luanne! She does look quite uncomfortable. I look forward to reading your poem. :-)
DeleteInsightful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting, Reena! :-)
DeleteWow, Yvette, I was *not* expecting that twist. Looking into her eyes again, though, I can see it. Great take on the image.
ReplyDeleteI love how we all pulled something different from the painting. Thanks for stopping by, Jade! :-)
DeleteI love paintings like this they say so much and capture the sitters inner thoughts. You saw hate and scheming..I can see it too but I also saw lust and passion ...hate, love like pain and pleasure not so far apart 💜
ReplyDeleteSo true, Willow! When I read your poem, I had to erase my interpretation to embrace yours, and then I saw it clearly. I love how we each came away with something different. Thanks for sharing! :-)
DeleteLove your take on the portrait and the form works so well I thought she looked sultry but definitely scheming 👀
ReplyDeleteA clever, scheming woman will use her wiles to get what she wants. ;-) Thanks for stopping by and commenting! :-)
DeleteWell done. I think this describes her. She seems like a strong woman. The shadorma is like an epigraph that summarizes what happened.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Merril! I wanted the shadorma to connect but not be completely repetitive. I'm happy you enjoyed it. :-)
DeleteShe looks like a strong woman. Great poetry to reflect that.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marjorie! :-)
Delete(Jules) I watch a bunch of shows with folks from 'her' era... And the secrets and misconceptions abound. In that time folks in 'her' station weren't allowed much freedoms including who they married. And yes some ways to rid the spouse and keep the cash were played out ;)
ReplyDeleteWell done.
Thanks for sharing that, Jules! I wanted to capture that era and the restrictions that were put upon women as well as one way to remove the spouse from the picture. ;-)
DeleteWonderful, Yvi! Yes, she certainly has a glint in her eyes 😁 Hugs, Harmony 💕🙂
ReplyDeleteThanks, Harmony! I'm happy you enjoyed it. :-)
DeleteYvi, this is excellent!! I loved your poem and the way the shadorma added to the drama of your first poem. There seems to be a bit of scheming in her look... I hadn't seen that until I read your take. I love this so much! 💜
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Colleen! The first thought I had when I saw the painting was "Because I'm a woman, you think..." And then her story came to me based on the tiny lilt in her lips and her eyes. I'm so happy you enjoyed my connected poems. :-)
DeleteThis is SO good, Yvette! The shadorma really added a twist to the story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan! I'm happy you liked it. :-)
DeleteI love your poem. You captured the thoughts of the times so well. I also saw her as "playing nice" but not really lol.
ReplyDeleteoh btw, I'm HJ from ChuOnThis :)
DeleteI'm sure that's a thought that's arisen in many a woman's mind.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt, Kerfe, especially during that time period. Thanks for stopping by today! :-)
DeleteNo matter who you are, there is always problems in one's life. Too many of us are ready to judge others based on stereotypes and first impressions. I think you've captured this beautifully, Yvette.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mark! You are so right that there are too many assumptions and judgements made on others based on stereotypes and impressions. As they say, not everything that glitters is gold. :-)
DeleteWhat a surprise ending, Yvette! I also saw her strength and independent spirit. It's such a great piece of artwork and I love all the interpretations. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am loving seeing this painting through each poet's interpretations. Thanks for visiting and commenting today, Diana! :-)
DeleteStunning poem, Yvette! The eyes and the confidence, we indeed got the same feeling.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elizabeth! I'm happy you enjoyed it. :-)
DeleteWow! You really captured her look perfectly, Yvette :) Well done. Xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise! I'm glad you liked my poem. Thanks for sharing! :-)
DeleteYou nailed it with just one line: "ready to take the reins" Yes, her expression clearly convey your thoughts! Fabulous interpretation. - Balroop.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Balroop! I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts today. :-)
DeletePerhaps she would have, except that I read up on her and found some suggestions as to her "languid" look, as it was put! Her eyes do have the "take the reins" in them.
ReplyDeleteYes, I read that she was quite sickly. Perhaps she was the one being given arsenic. Lol! Oh, the stories my mind tells. ;-) Thanks for visiting and commenting today, Lisa! :-)
DeleteWhat a lovely poem. I visited a John Singer Sargent exhibition in Boston M.A.a few years back.I love his work. I think the beautiful woman is about to escape from the life she is leading.
ReplyDeleteShe does look like she's ready to escape, doesn't she, Joy? Thanks for visiting. :-)
DeleteNot anonymous,It was me Joy Gerken.
ReplyDeleteOh my, you made her strong. And looks are deceiving-- that is so true. What a trip you took me on. And what about that bit about arsenic? What!? Yve, this was wonderful. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Selma! I'm so happy you enjoyed it. :-)
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