It's Still Life

Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge #15

The Commonality of Layers

The rain that binds was medicine,
acid burnt and limping beige.
Memories pressed between.

Cut and cropped like lacy
wings prised off butterflies.
A cult of layers for a girl

who caught a butterfly
in her hands. Held it tight, right
near her ear.

But when she couldn’t
hear it breathe,
she assumed it dead,

‘though its wings still beat
hard within her heart.

Written for Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge #15, Image by Nick Reeves “An Uncommon Vision” shared with dVerse Poets and @Experimentsinfc #APoemADay on Twitter   © Misky 2021

Misky

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30 responses to “Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge #15”

  1. Ingrid avatar
    Ingrid

    Thank you for your entry, Misky: I enjoyed your response to the challenge!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thanks, Ingrid.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Liyona avatar
    Liyona

    Love this poem! I really love how the image inspired your piece 🙂

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you so very much! I appreciate your taking the time to read it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Tricia Sankey avatar
    Tricia Sankey

    Beautiful imagery! 🦋

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thanks 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. lillian avatar
    lillian

    This is a beautiful response to the image! The collage — commonality of layers —
    To me it looks like it could be an etching in part…those colors….a singeing….and limping beige.
    I am enthralled by the expression on the girl’s face here and to me, reading your poem twice, it can very well be the look of wonder, awe, intense listening while holding the butterfly up to her ear?
    “Cut and cropped like lacy
    wings prised off butterflies.” yes — this is also what the image “feels”.

    Just a beautiful job relating to the image.

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thanks, Lillian. Your critique means a lot to me.

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  5. sanaarizvi avatar
    sanaarizvi

    My goodness this is absolutely phenomenal, Misky! 💝 The poem with its arresting imagery can be interpreted in more ways than one. I particularly love; “Cut and cropped like lacy wings prised off butterflies. A cult of layers for a girl,” to me there are dark undertones to this which speak of pain and (perhaps repressed memories) that being said, I guess that is the beauty of poetry isn’t it? We unlock so much in so few words 🙂

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you, Sanaa.

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  6. navasolanature avatar
    navasolanature

    Oh I love the beating wings, hard in her heart. Such fragility and strength in this.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you!

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  7. scotthastiepoet avatar
    scotthastiepoet

    This is great Misky – the image has released a lot in you I think and helped produce a powerful and confidently shaped write. Great stuff! in fact quite inspiring – it’s an excercise I might well try myself now – thank you…

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you very much!

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  8. Ken / rivrvlogr avatar
    Ken / rivrvlogr

    This is what I love about ekphrastic poetry. It (this especially) often offers a new way of perceiving a work of art.

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. msjadeli avatar
    msjadeli

    Listening close to the stir of butterfly wings stands out here for me. Your poem goes well with the image.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thanks so much! ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. msjadeli avatar
        msjadeli

        You’re very welcome.

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  10. msjadeli avatar
    msjadeli

    to = for

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  11. Helen Dehner avatar
    Helen Dehner

    A gorgeous ekphrastic poem …

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thanks.

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  12. kim881 avatar
    kim881

    A wonderful. delicate ekphrastic poem, Marilyn, and the title fits it perfectly. I love the hint of colour in ‘acid burnt and limping beige’, and those ‘lacy wings prised off butterflies’. The ending is poignant.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      Thank you so much, Kim.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. rothpoetry avatar
    rothpoetry

    I love these lines! Well done!!

    But when she couldn’t
    hear it breathe,
    she assumed it dead,

    ‘though its wings still beat
    hard within her heart.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. EIF Ekphrastic Challenge: The Results - Experiments in Fiction avatar
    EIF Ekphrastic Challenge: The Results – Experiments in Fiction

    […] Place: The Commonality of Layers by […]

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  15. Ingrid avatar
    Ingrid

    Congratulations Misky! https://experimentsinfiction.com/2021/02/10/eif-ekphrastic-challenge-the-results/
    I would like to offer you the chance to judge next week’s competition, should you wish to. Please contact me by email to discuss, if you are interested: experimentsinfiction@protonmail.com.

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    1. Misky avatar
      Misky

      What a delightful honour. Thank you very much.

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  16. Misky avatar
    Misky

    Reblogged this on Plumb-Lines and commented:

    I’m delighted that this poem was chosen as the winner of the Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge.

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  17. EIF Poetry Challenge #16: Nature Poetry - Experiments in Fiction avatar
    EIF Poetry Challenge #16: Nature Poetry – Experiments in Fiction

    […] week’s judge will be last week’s winner, Misky Braendeholm. Her poem ‘The Commonality of Layers‘ won the Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge. Misky’s poetry has been widely published, […]

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