Wyeth Sky
N.C. Wyeth sky, cobalt and cumulus.
Cotton candy, billowed snow,
thrilling show in a big top circus.
Cotton candy, billowed snow,
thrilling show in a big top circus.
Giants stride through ocean waves.
Children watch, amazed, as Crusoe
swings upstage to colonial caves
swings upstage to colonial caves
in search of Magua and Monro.
Robin Hood wakes old Van Winkle,
up the Brandywine they row
Robin Hood wakes old Van Winkle,
up the Brandywine they row
.
flanked by native Navajo. In vain,
these fabled men did not restrain
the saddest Pagliacci pain,
these fabled men did not restrain
the saddest Pagliacci pain,
over Chadds Ford landscape, dynasty reigned.
Too soon cut down by a racing steel train.
Too soon cut down by a racing steel train.
.
Willow, 2009
.
.
I love to call a deep blue sky with huge puffy clouds an "N.C. Wyeth
sky". We had a glorious one here in Ohio earlier this week and it
inspired me to write this poem. It is speculated that Wyeth's tragic
death in 1945, at a local Chadd's Ford railroad crossing, was a
suicide.
.
And, hey, did you notice I slipped in Pagliacci? (click for recent post)
Opera's on the brain this week!)
40 comments:
beautiful poem
Having missed 'stage' I'm amongst the first
to admire your cloud poem.
Yes, music, pictures, weather
words
all things that both move and delight us.
How well you have interwoven them all!
I loved the intensity of this poem. It was as deep as that blue sky. Many thanks.
Greetings from London.
hi willow, i spend many summer days looking to the skies. wyatt skies or otherwise, they're always pleasing to my eyes. i loved your poem with its magical stirring of memories of stories i've read and coupled with the image - magic in its own right - made for a lovely escape. have a peaceful day. steven
I love those N.C. Wyeth skies! We have some of the books with his illustrations -- magical!
And your poem evokes the same feeling! Lovely!
You are so good! Love the poem and of course you know I love that kind of sky as well. (I see those giants sometimes. I do!)
Been meaning to tell you that I, too, tried (and failed) to watch Australia. What a waste of money! I found it actually offensive. Should have listened to you!
Great poem and painting!
Your poem captures the feeling we had as children, the guessing game of identifying and personifying the world around us. I love how you interwove all the pieces, myths, tall tales, history of art and artists. This is a giant Wyeth statement. Lovely.
You are amazing! How come I only see little ponies? LOL!
Brilliant, Willow!!!!!
What an image, Willow:
"Giants stride through ocean waves.
Children watch, amazed..."
I feel the same way when standing before a profound sky and I love the strong theatrical point of view in your poem.
Thanks for your visit and comment to Oasis blog. I <3
cool pic and beautiful poem. love to sit under teh clouds and listen as my boys narrate what they see, always the most amazing things.
Absolutely beautiful. I admire the intersection of arts. Nice job, Willow.
Willow, most excellent pairing of verse and art! Happy week-end :)
I immediately noticed the Pagliacci reference! Lovely! Skies like that always make me think of the Netherlands--that was the way they looked to me. NC Wyeth is a big fave...wonderful, Willow!
This one is my favorite N.C. illustration. Thanks for giving me a new name for puffy cloud sky days! Puffy cloud N. C. days always make me happy to be alive. I can see why this kind of sky inspired you to write.
very nice Willow :)))
Excellent poem. I had never come across Wyeth and therefore looked him up after reading your poem. Well worth the effort. Thanks
Very nice words Willow. Not much chance of a Wyeth sky here this morning. Dull and overcast in my part of the island.
My sons have the ability to spot what they call a Simpsons Sky...
I can understand your attraction to skies and your naming of the N.C. Wyeth sky. There is a particular sky that I always refer to as my Bellini sky - from the painting by him of the Garden of Gethsemene.
Willow your poems are always so potent and powerful. I love the swirling nature of this one and the intensity behind it all. Such great images! Enjoy your weekend xx
Hello Willow,
Having clicked through to your Wyeth post it helps place the references in your poem which, as ever, is excellent.
Today we share a dreamy view of life...are we just wanderers at heart...?
Wonderfully done, Willow. A good sonnet with an interesting & effective rhyme scheme.
I enjoyed your poem. I live in Wyeth country and highly recommend the region. It is an inspiring part of the world.
Here we refer to "Maxfield Parrish" skies.
You are such a good poet willow...read it three times.
Love the painting to go with your poem...of course I notice Pagliacci!
You need to enter some of these in contests. I'll bet you could win a buck or two. Pappy
Willow! Check this out: http://www.wcsu.edu/artalumni/mfastudents/nicholsj.html
My very best friend Jan is a Wyeth fan. She just got her MFA and the paintings for her children's book are based on my daughter Tess and steeped in Wyeth. Wonderful Poem!
Suzanne, Jan is just as lovely as her paintings! Thank you so much for the link. I thoroughly enjoyed her work and yes, I can see the influence of Wyeth.
A wonderful poem Willow, and very interesting illustration. I enjoyed this post very much, as I did the one about your daughter a little while back.I am only just catching up and there is always something fascinating that you share.
Lovely Poem.
I live in Maine and have had the pleasure of meeting the late Andrew Wyeth on a few occasions.
I love your blog and will be back.
I like your poem and imagery, especially the first verse.
Our skies are very uninspiring at the moment, tupperware grey for the most part.
We had a fabulous day here where I live in Ohio on Saturday. A cool breeze. I fell asleep a dozen times or more in my chair. As far as Wyeth goes, he did some great work, staggering the imagination of artists all over the world.
Your visit will count and help me Make History. Pick a Peck of Pixels
Aren't N. C. Wyeth's literary illustrations totally alluring? I am not sure I have ever seen this painting, and it is hypnotic! I have been know to comment on a Maxfield Parrish sky...he has many different ones for all seasons.
I really like your poem for this one...Opera is good for poetry, and poetry is good for opera!
Opera should ALWAYS be on the brain!
I rather liked that poem. Subtle rhythms and rhymes.
I knew nothing about Pagliacci, when, as a young film editor, this wonderful sports producer wanted me to cut a skating clown to "Ride P.".
Since then I've listened to the whole opera, but, let's face it, that's the best song. So far,for me, I have only found Verdi makes every song terrific.
oh, absolutely beautiful!!! wonderful verse! and i couldn't tell you how all my life i've followed/watched the magic of the sky - still do - and interestingly enough, just minutes ago, was sitting out in my swing and decided to take a shot of the gloomy dark delaware day here!!! came inside, downloaded my photo to put on my blog and decided to check out your site first - i'd not seen this wyeth post and read it first - oooohhhhh..........
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