Verdun, 1917 by Felix Vallotton
February through December
The earth was torn apart
As people perished
By each other hands.
We learned nothing except
More efficient ways to kill
How to war is not a talent
The artist shows it well.
The Earth cries
With the destruction
And humanity cries
For ones who do not return.
I make a habit of not researching anything on the picture or the artist until I have written my piece. I read no others so my take will be my own. Somewhere in my outdated hard drive of a brain Verdun said war and the picture backed me up. It is a good artist who can represent the destruction and desolation of war in the strokes on his canvas.
Visit Magpie Tales with Ms Tess Kincaid. Read many talented writers contributing to her fabulous blog and join in the challenge.
Thank you, Tess, for remembering.
19 comments:
It may well be war- I do love the textures visual and verbal, thanks.
this just proves what i told you , when i see things i don't see what the artist means. when i saw this one i thought lazer beams and burned coals...
I do like to know a little about the picture or the painter if I can but, similarly to you, don't read anyone else's work until mine is posted and that way know I won't be influenced by anything they write.
This is such a sad subject but, you have captured it all so well, especially the futility of it all and yes, even in those 90 odd years we've learned nothing except how to kill people more efficiently with less damage to property.
nice...that middle stanza in particular...how we learn more efficient ways to kill...and there being no talent in it...i like how you bring the artist into it as well...we do cry...all creation cries at all our destruction...
without looking up Verdun- the painting screams war and death-
and your poem echos the image.
I too do not look at any other's posts until I have finished mine.
Excellent poem.
My work deals with death, and she was the star Verdun.
I only have one word to say. Perfect. B
When I saw the picture, I thought devastation & destruction...your words confirmed it!...)JP
It definitely looks like the earth is being torn apart.
It really does look like war! Interesting!
Luckily, my country was not involved in WWI and only took in the Belgian refugees. We don't have a remembrance day for this war but we do for others. So many young men lost their lives in this war. I don't think we would have recovered from it.
This is a very good poem. xox
Excellent post, Gail.
I don't read on the artist, or other peoples posts prior to writing either...I have found I like it better that way...but having seen the date of the painting I had a good idea what it was about.
thanks for your piece
Wander
Very nicely done...
Intense words. My father was the only one from a group of five friends from his little village to return from war. His heart ached for them right till the end.
I couldn't tell by the prompt, but when I read Verdun, my mind immediately went to war. Especially on Veteran's Day.
You did an excellent job with this, Gail.
Verdun was a tragedy. So many lives lost.
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Very well done Gail. Tragic, lives lost, world torn apart - WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THIS?
Much truth in your fine words Gail. Well done.
Anna :o]
Well-written. :-)
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