Low Tide
One of a few saving graces
in my doctor’s waiting room
a moment in time,
replicates
a beach painting
by Clarice Beckett,
depicting a girl
in a red swimsuit and white sunhat,
looking back
to a skiff, deciding whether she’ll use it.
In a brave gesture of composition
Clarice places a
sailboat
just below the top
frame
hovering on a strip
of blue sea
as if vibrating its whiteness
into precious glare. No matter how many times
I see the image I am taken aback.
In splendid haze,
tension between
sailboat, skiff,
sunhat and a strip
of white sand on
the bottom frame
traps someone who should be
forewarned.
Is the lagoon-like water ingoing or out?
As for the red-suited child, will
she
or won’t she?
However many
blinks, cannot
decide.
Terrific! Now the painting please! :)
ReplyDeleteThe structure of this is so good and the shape. Thank you, Jan. And I love Becket's work so much.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. Evokes Clarice Beckett's work wonderfully - I enjoyed piecing the image together in my mind as the poem unfolded.
ReplyDelete