New Rendition (A Magpie Tales - Norman Rockwell Inspired Poem)

This morning I was busily working on a blog post writing about ekphrastic poetry for an OctPoWriMo. My primary intention is to preparing poets to write a poem a day during the month of October. I was reading articles and essays and poems on Poets.org and thought, “I’ll pop over to Magpie Tales and see what Tess Kincaid, et al are up to. Haven’t been there lately…” and boom. As often happens, the simple act of communing with art and other poets births a poem (or at least a first draft of a poem.)

The art is Boy in a Dining Car by Norman Rockwell. The boy posing is Peter Rockwell, the painter’s son.

Once I read Tess’ poem (my attempt at coming up with suitable adjectives is coming up blank), my hands itched to pen something, too. To read the other poet’s translations of art to poetry – and perhaps write your own – visit "The Mag" at Magpie Tales here each Sunday for new artful inspiration.

New Rendition

Earnest eyes will listen.

Scuffed sneakers know

The shame of exclusion.

The ripeness of hunger.

The longing to please.

Be heard.

For once

The gift of a random someone

Showing compassion.

Before this moment

Is left on the prairie.

On the way to

Maple St and Monroe Avenue.

-          Julie Jordan Scott

-          September 8, 2013

Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, performance poet, Mommy and mixed-media artist. Check out the links below to follow her on a bunch of different social media channels, especially if you find the idea of a Word-Love Party bus particularly enticing.

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© 2013

 

Comments

[Jinksy]

Scuffed sneakers know
the shame of exclusion.

Why do I immediately imagine a pair of smelly trainers that have to be put outside the bedroom every night?! lol

[Ginny Brannan]

Rockwell had his finger on the pulse of our nation. He could illustrate a moment like no other. This was painted in 1946, just after WWII, years before the marches on Washington and Selma, when opportunities for "colored" people as yet leaned toward servitude. Still, the man in his crisp whites with benevolent smile seems to take pride in his position. Your poem captures well the unspoken kinship and understanding between the young lad and the gentleman serving him. Nicely penned.

[Wayne]

nicely done Julie

[Helen]

Beautiful poetry ... love the way you ended this!

[Kutamun]

Amazing where kindness and compassion rears its head.... Where we least expect it....thanks

[Morgan Dragonwillow (@MDragonwillow)]

I believe that most children, before they may be tainted by parents' prejudice) see people for who they are and not what color their skin is. The true hearted know and see this.

Lovely poem and photo. Thank you Julie for sharing your creativity with the world. It always warms my heart.

[Kathe W.]

this is lovely

[Friko]

Rockwell may not have been a great painter (dare I say this to his fellow American?) but he certainly managed to illustrate his life and times beautifuly.

Your poem has something simple, clean and unfussy. I like it very much.

(I rarely attempt poetry myself - there’s too much of it around already. Not all of it good.)

[Tess Kincaid]

Beautiful write, Julie...always a treat...

[Jerry E. Beuterbaugh]

Most excellent!