"The Umbrella" (1883) by Marie Bashkirtseff [1858-1884].
April showers
I refuse to believe we
will have flowers this year
this rain is the same
as it was last month
--soul chilling
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
The artist died a year after painting "The Umbrella." She was only 25 years old and had developed tuberculosis, more commonly known at the time as "consumption." Adding to the tragedy of a career cut short is the fact that the Nazis destroyed many of Bashkirtseff's works during World War II.
A cherita is a haiku-like poem of three stanzas that tells a "story." The first stanza is one line and sets the scene. Stanza two is two lines, stanza three is three lines. A cherita terbalik is a cherita with the order of the stanzas rearranged.
Sad and lovely. This is the perfect marriage of words and image. And so timely.
ReplyDeleteIncredibly sad. At least for us there will be sun today.
DeleteWhat a wonderful painting, and I love your take on it. I love how the poem is completely gloomy, but can't keep the hope out entirely, in spite of itself. Because the reader knows there will be flowers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth. I keep waiting for the flowers. At least the birds are back.
DeleteStriking painting, Diane. Thanks so much for drawing our attention to Marie Bashkirtseff and her work.
ReplyDeleteI was happy to find her!
DeleteThank you for finding and sharing the painting, an artist new to me. "Soul chilling" shows well on those cheeks!
ReplyDeleteShe does look cold, or perhaps ill?
DeleteThe painting is stunning; love your take on the girl's feelings. Sad to hear about Marie's untimely death. She was very talented.
ReplyDeleteActually, this is the way I was feeling, since we had "snow possible" forecasts.
DeleteSuch a stark portrait and poem. Arresting, both!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura!
DeleteOh my gosh! The RAIN! Will it ever stop?!? Our back yard was a lake after 2 inches in one day last weekend. Soul chilling indeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd still, some politicians continue to say out loud that climate change is fake news.
DeleteYes, "soul chilling" hope you are wrong, though I like your poem and the image is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for liking the work!
DeleteThanks for this beautiful image, Diane. I love ekphrastic poetry. Made me think ...
ReplyDeleteThe chill of her cheeks
shawl pulled tight,
eyes dull with grief ...
Well done, Vicki!
DeleteStunning painting. Such sadness in one so young. So many hard realities. And late spring warmth, always hard. I jave had to learn to co-exist with our barely 2 month springs here in perpetually gloomy and often snowy CNY. Coming from balmier Long Island years ago I still remember early spring and its promise.
ReplyDeleteIt's sort of like it is for me here in southern NH. 45 minutes south, in Boston, flowers are blooming.
DeleteOpps that's *have. So hard to type on my phone!!! Janet F.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, Janet! I have large fingers which makes typing far from easy.
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