Monday, December 29, 2014

Neil Ellman- Three Poems


Homage to the Square: Ascending

(Joseph Albers, painting)

It is everything
the four means to ascendancy
providence framed in
yesterdays, todays, tomorrows
and beyond
earth, wind, fire and water
north, east, south and west
at every corner of the universe
its edges aligned to stars—
the square is the root
of everything known
all things rising from the sea
to bathe the day in yellow light.


The Last Judgment

(Wassily Kandinsky, painting)

When two dimensions meet
there is an awkward silence
as they circle around
each other’s other
space and time              
like brother and sister
at arm’s length
hesitant lovers afraid to touch
wary of the other’s secret intent    
each recognizing in the other
something of itself
too murderous to hear
the fate of its existence
in a war between themselves.


The Violence of the Machines

(Yves Tanguy, painting)

Clockwork angels
disemboweled from Hell
they have learned
from their makers
the meaning of deceit
how violence flows
from flesh
to metal and wire
and burns the inside
of the mind
how the world must end
how it ended
in paroxysms of pain
in the arms of the deity
a moment too late.



Neil Ellman, a poet from New Jersey, has published more that 1,000 poems, many of which are ekphrastic and written in response to works of modern and contemporary art.  He has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of the Net, and for the Rhysling Award.

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