June Forecast XXV: One More Day of Extreme Heat Advisory
Part III: One more day of extreme heat advisory!
The air conditioning at its wits’ end— I walk around my tiny house filled with so much art— so many water scenes— rivers, lakes, oceans, ponds, canals.
I stop at my five-year-old self.
Background: the Atlantic Ocean / Middle ground: the shore of Pompano Beach.
Focal point: me, nearly leaning against the frame, wrapped tight in a striped beach towel of blues and greens. My wide brown eyes turned towards the artist, my Oma. My short blonde curls frame a tiny pale face.
Dare I jump in here?
The heat drives me in. I rush past my silent self into salty waters. A quick turn back, I see my younger self’s eyes follow me. I swim out to deeper, cooler blue. Stay a long while.
Back ashore, my five-year-old self is still silent. I touch her tender cheek and leave.
an ekphrastic from Michele on Pompano Beach by Oma. Oil on canvas. 16 x 20.
6 thoughts on "June Forecast XXV: One More Day of Extreme Heat Advisory"
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Love:
the invitation once more to dive in: “Dare I jump in here?/The heat drives me in. I rush past my silent self into salty waters.”
and the ending: “I touch her tender cheek and leave.”
Your Oma ekphrastic poems are wonderful. I feel the cool and soothing water sweep over me every time I read one.🌹
The end of this poem is incredibly emotionally resonant! Strong and effective reflection and ekphrastic.
What a special scene, captured not only in this poem, but also in the painting and in memory.
I love this ekphrastic series you’ve done, the poems are so rich in detail I feel like I’ve seen the art they are based on. Lovely work!
Such a lovely piece 💛