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| Purple, orange and grey streaks. Watercolour by Tonka, 2000 |
Make it weird enough so people notice.
You know:
So they. Have to. Look twice.
Without. Staring. They want to stare, but don’t—
in case I’m not an exhibitionist.
They don’t. But make me attract, anyway.
I’m talking a blue streak. Maybe purple.
No, red. Purple is for the very old.
And make it slow.
Like five-line verse and pray-
ing in color. For hours. On walls. With blood.
ing in color. For hours. On walls. With blood.
Speed up in case the bad cops come, the ones
with bullets in their guns in case I’m strange
enough to be shut up. But I want to
be seen silent and standing, so listen—
Draw me out. From the box. And draw me loud.
Draw me out. From the box. And draw me loud.
For Sumana's prompt
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Weird
Copyright © 2016 Susan L. Chast
Draw me out.. draw me loud.. sigh.. I sense an exuberant spark in your verse :D
ReplyDeleteBeautifully expressed.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
"Like...praying in color." I love that, and I feel the speeding up.........a lot of energy in this poem!
ReplyDeleteI loved the opening lines. Enjoyed reading the poem.
ReplyDeleteI love the praying in colors and your closing lines especially. Wonderful poem, Susan!
ReplyDeleteYour first and last lines are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI think that's a very beautiful painting – but then, I am weird enough to adore (good) abstracts. I love the identification between the poem's narrator and the painting. And above all the idea of being drawn from or perhaps 'out of the box': all the layers of meanings.
ReplyDeleteI love this Susan. I just came back from visiting a great museum in Tucson. This poem seems to culminate my trip. But there's a lot more to it. I must reread to fill myself with all the nuances. Being noticed may be the drug of choice for artists.
ReplyDelete"Draw me out loud," yes! I am an abstracts geek, even though I mothered a classical artist. Well, I like it all... but your commands in this one could very well have driven the artist's hand. I love it. Didn't think this kind of intimate "ekphrastic" could come with an abstract! Amy (Sharp Little Pencil)
ReplyDeleteWe all have a voice and we should use it, whether in speech, writing, painting or a host of other expressive media. It is better to place our footprint of the ground than hide and be forgotten. Great post Susan.
ReplyDeleteTimely, and impactful. Your last stanza reminded me of a story played recently on This American Life about a young man shot by police in a hospital room in Texas, the man was suffering a manic episode.
ReplyDeleteThe ending is so powerful...and in between I smiled maybe the police thing...and there in between colors and words come so many things that otherwise an obvious statement may not bring out....I like weird things...lol...it gives space for imagination...
ReplyDeleteThose bad cops ruin everything don't they - cuts of colour and life..cuts of blood and trying...i love the punctuation..it is unique..loud..but not shouting..strong and bold and full of life
ReplyDeleteA wonderful voice given to the colors in this painting. I went to an exhibit last weekend and was taken in by all the "weird" aka avant-garde art. Artists and writers always the frontrunners.
ReplyDeleteYes, draw me out from the box and draw me loud. I hear this. I think we need people who have been sitting silently in the 'box' to begin to speak!! Loudly.
ReplyDeleteThe last six lines made me sigh. So sad. So real...
ReplyDelete".Make it weird enough so people notice.
ReplyDeleteYou know: So they. Have to. Look twice.
Without. Staring."
Makes perfect sense to me!Nice to be in the club of weirdos...like this self-discovery!:)
The concluding para is poignant...One needs that liberty to speak openly without fear. Conscience and consciousness are the sacred precincts of mind!!
LOVED this piece, Susan.
A very interesting write. Luv the suprisingo surreal ending
ReplyDeleteLuv the abstract art you chose to supplement your poem
Much love...
I do like the idea of praying in color. Why pray in boring black and white?
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of grafitti drawn on walls....some of it is brilliant and I think valid art.
ReplyDeleteThe first line is thought provoking. Attracting attention has become a cult in itself whichever way it be.
ReplyDeleteStunning opening lines...people ARE noticing no doubt, and taking a second look too!
ReplyDeleteGreat poem!
http://amitaag.blogspot.in/2015/11/stigmata.html