"Self-portrait with Green Background and Blue Irises" (circa 1905) by Paula Modersohn-Becker [1876-1907].
portrait with green background
in 1905 she thought she'd
have many more irises to paint
but death hid grinning in
the foliage--he knew she
had only two springs more
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
I came here from reading the poem of the day at Poets.org (Dobby Gibson's) and I'm struck by the resonance of yours and his. And always this in my mind: "and since to look at things in bloom/fifty springs is little room..." We never know when it will be our last.
ReplyDeleteAnd how many of us considered that spring 2020 might have been the last we saw? I know it crossed my mind.
DeleteIt's always so personal to see a self-portrait. I look and look to see if I can see what they see. It's a somber note about death knowing more than we do.
ReplyDeleteI looking for women artists I found that a good number of them died young. If prejudice against creative women's creative spirits wasn't enough to kill a career, then women's health issues finished them off.
Deleteonly two springs more...despite that plea in green.
ReplyDeleteDo I see sadness in this portrait? Life is fragile and uncertain.
ReplyDelete