Nighthawks

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April sunshine has given me the courage to take on the challenge of writing Ekphrastic poems. I have never attempted to translate the emotion from paintings, drawings, sculptures, or other visual works of art into words. The challenge will require me to dig deep to tap into the passions such works of art create inside a person. Most of what I write will be speculative. There will be times when I will place myself into the mind of the artist. Still other times, I will express the emotions I experience gazing at the work of art. If I get creative, I might even tell the story from an element within the work of art. This Ekphrastic poem is based on a painting by Edward Hooper entitled Nighthawks.   

Nighthawks

He brought me here after our date,

To Phillies Five-Cent Cigar Diner

One of the few places open so late.

The darkness outside a constant reminder

Of why we chose to huddle here

In the warmth of the white walls and yellow door

And the cherrywood counter.

The world is filled with so much fear

Rumors of battle in the street

I don’t know if I can take much more

Almost everyone I meet

Says we are going to war

If the fighting starts, he will enlist

The newspapers all say it might happen soon

I know he wants me to spend the night

With him here in Greenwich Village

A little voice whispers what I’m contemplating isn’t right

If he touches me one more time

How can I resist?

With rumors of war flying through the air

How can I refuse to share?

Would it be such a dreadful crime

 For me to finally say yes.

All he would have to do is take my hand

And hold it gently in his

I wonder if he can ever understand

The power he holds over me

It is hard for me to confess

A single word would bring me to my knee

Would any of loves desire be so wrong

In a world about to explode into war

We sat in silence for so long

I didn’t notice the bartender

Cleaning up the spillage

In the diner late at night

When I was contemplating

Giving up my virginity

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!

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Published by henhouselady

I am the author of Saving the Hen House. I didn't know when I started it would turn into a series. I love to ride motorcycles, the blues, my family, and going on adventures. This old hen rocks.

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