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An Ekphrastic Sonnet

By D. J. ReddallPublished 7 months ago 1 min read
"Bathers at Asnièrs" by Georges Seurat (1884)

Everyone you could possibly become

Forlorn observer of the glad bathers

Swims before you, hideous or handsome

The throng of possibilities gathers

Choose carefully from behind your bored hair

Distinguish mere seeming from real being

Each mode of comportment, weigh and compare

From straying husband to priest, faith forsaking

The river will change each time you leap in

You will change in turn; time will see to that

The water will remember each, small sin

Each wave and ripple knows what it aims at

Perhaps you are wise to watch from the bank

Many who jumped in all too promptly sank

Ekphrastic

About the Creator

D. J. Reddall

I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.

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Comments (5)

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  • Cathy holmes7 months ago

    "The water will remember each small sin." Like bathing in holy water. Funny though, it's been so hot lately, as soon as I saw the pic I wanted to jump in.

  • I think I would have been the one watching from the bank but not because I was wise, lol. Loved your poem!

  • Aspen Marie 7 months ago

    I always appreciate how you bring paintings to life by giving a voice to silent figures.

  • Love the images and the words , wonderful sonnet

  • Grz Colm7 months ago

    I like your ekphrastics sonnets, D.J. (Although I’ve not read all of these). I don’t know this painting, yet I’ll never look at it the same way again! 👀😄

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