Because I am an overachiever, I decided to extend my Ekphrastic poems into the month of May. 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 may even tell the story from an element within the artwork. This Ekphrastic poem is based on a painting by Bob Ross entitled Lazy River.
Lazy River
A lazy river on a warm summer day
A gift from nature and a place to play
Far away from confusion and responsibilities
Sitting on a riverbank surrounded by happy little trees.
Overhead a choir of birds sing songs of praise
Caught up in the warmth of these summer days
Drowning out the croak of the river frog
Moving down the river on a hollow log
A red fox pokes his head through the heavy brush
Tick and green and so very lush
A doe and her fawns come to drink
And I don’t dare even blink.
A squirrel looks for a nut to find and peel.
A hawk circles overhead searching for a meal
Sweltering on the banks of the lazy river in the stagnant breeze
Surrounded by all of these happy little trees
With insects flying past my head
I remember the words my mama said
“Nature is cruel and crazy uncomfortable at best,
Give me the comfort of my four walls when I need a rest.”
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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💜 Perfect; very good, carry on, please
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