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 C.M. Coolidge entitled A Friend in Need.
A Friend in Need
“Dogs playing cards
How ridiculous,” they said.
But I painted them by the yards
Eighteen in the series to get ahead.
I managed to make a fairly good living.
Most people don’t know
The paintings commissioned by Brown & Bigelow
To advertise the tobacco filled cigar.
Smoked by businessmen, Kings and even the Tsar.
But art critics can be so unforgiving.
I believe it was The Friend in Need
That pointed out a dreadful Canine deed
The public couldn’t fathom man’s best friend cheating
The idea of the dogs playing cards wasn’t fleeting
A hind leg passing an ace under the table.
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.
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