"Icon Painters" by Elena Polenova, courtesy The Athenaeum.
Text:
Iconography
The icon painter leaves the workshop
and returns with a deftly carved
and painted churn. He places it in front.
"I'm blessed with many, talented children."
"So I see," says the student artist who
has come to render the icon master.
"Your eldest son is your apprentice.
Your youngest's little hands fill in.
The strong one grinds your pigments.
Your twin boys prepare the panels."
"Yes, but we need to recognize my
daughter, too," says the icon painter.
"She tends the garden. Sweeps the floors
Mends our aprons. Collects the eggs.
She milks the cow. Churns our butter.
And, cleans my brushes of their color."
"Ah, you honor the Lord with paint and gold,
the Lord honors you with treasure."
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
It is probably completely unrealistic to think such a tribute to a daughter would have happened. But, I can imagine it, which is the advantage of having poetic license! Certainly a businessman would understand the importance of a hardworking work crew.
Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect will be hosting this week's Round-Up.
I love your ekphrastic poem and the tribute you pay to the daughter. The final stanza is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Molly!
DeleteInteresting response to the painting, Diane, and blessings for that daughter! Cinderella? My grandmother had ten brothers and one sister, but a different and spoiled growing up. She was fortunate, I think.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine life in a home with ten brothers! Obviously she survived because we have you--yay!
DeleteI loved imagining this scene and appreciating what goes on behind the scenes so that the master can work. Lovely poem, Diane
ReplyDeleteI found it disturbing that the whole picture was men and boys and I wanted to make sure there was at least one woman represented!
DeleteYes! Here's to recognizing the daughters!
ReplyDeleteHear! Hear!
DeleteThere are always those working BEHIND the scenes that make the work IN the scene come together. Loved your ending!
ReplyDeleteInvisible helpers make the visible seem seamless.
DeleteI love that you've honored the work of the child not pictured here. She may not have been recognized in her time, but I'm glad you "saw" her.
ReplyDeleteI see her as being her own kind of artist. She's the one who decorates the churn. She probably adds a flower when mending the holes in the linens.
DeleteDiane, your take on the painting is a wonderful piece of storytelling in poetic voice. The daughter gets accolades too. How busy all the workers are, as busy as you were with all your word weaving.
ReplyDeleteI love your tribute to the hardworking daughter. It makes me wonder how many such daughters and wives and mothers supported the work of men in their lives without ever getting any credit.
ReplyDeleteYour word choice and style of telling the story matches the tone of the painting very well, Diane - it feel as though the two have always been meant for each other. And as the father of 4 daughters, I agree, they deserve much credit!
ReplyDeleteYou struck a nerve in your readers, Diane! I imagine her peeking around the corner. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for remembering the daughter Diane–and we remember her the most as the poem ends!
ReplyDelete