Ephrastic April, Day 30: "Figures on the Sand, Annisquam, 1915"

We're ending Ekphrastic April at the beach. I hope to see you next year for another month of ekphrastic cherita. Stay home and stay safe.

"Figures on the Sand, Annisquam, 1915" (1915) by Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts [1871-1927].

April afternoon

promises of summer
...but only promises

we still need to walk
through the shadows
before we reach full sun


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Ephrastic April, Day 29: "Young Girl in Front of a Window"

"Young Girl in Front of a Window" (1930) by Suzanne Valadon [1865-1938].

window opens wide

life on hold for too long
she will get out
of her rumpled pajamas

toss the paper flowers
and walk among the living


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Ephrastic April, Day 28: "Ruth St. Denis"

"Ruth St. Denis" (1910) by Alice Pike Barney [1857-1931].

not trusting in
the brilliance of talent

the dancer fails to
let herself shine
preferring tricks of light

with rhinestones


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Artist, Alice Pike Barney, captured the spirit of modern dancer Ruth St. Denis. If you think the costume she was painted in is overly bejeweled, look below to see some contemporary photographs of St. Denis.

Ruth St. Denis in Radha (1906), NYPL Digital Collections, Denishawn Collection.

Ruth St. Denis in first costume for Radha. Bust portrait. (1904), NYPL Digital Collections, Denishawn Collection.

Ephrastic April, Day 27: " Young Woman with a Pipe"

"Young Woman with a Pipe (Portrait of Andrée Vaurabourg)" (1920) by Alice Bailly [1872-1938].

after a lesson

a piano teacher
can't be faulted
for picking up a pipe

it may be the only thing
between her and murder


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Ephrastic April, Day 26: "Coffee Time"

"Coffee Time" (1916) by Elsa Backlund-Celsing [1880-1974].

fresh brewed and cooled
with twice as much milk,
sugared with a heavy hand

then served with cakes
cookies and laughter

coffee time


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Ephrastic April, Day 25: "Assisi"

"Assisi" (circa 1883-1910) by Annie Louisa Swynnerton [1844-1933].

the fact that birds
can fly even higher
than the fortifications

of Assisi

must have given Francis
hope for man's soul


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Ephrastic April, Day 24: "Pansies"

"Pansies" (1919) by Jacqueline Marval [1866-1932].

perennial

pansies are guaranteed
to arrive each spring

if nothing else is
available to make you smile
head to the garden


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.