How Do They Do It?.....’Too Long Too Long’…….
by Bernie Bell - 09:47 on 15 February 2024
How Do They Do It?
I was looking at two images of art-work by Patty Boonstra….
https://www.facebook.com/patty.boonstra/
…….‘Green Tutu’ and ‘Ikon’, and marvelled at how an artist can draw something which is see-through. They are seeing two things - one on top of the other - and can present both.
Artists can draw draped clothing or material to produce a realistic impression of what lies beneath, but to draw something which is see-through - is something else.
I have a photo of ‘Ikon’ which I took when it was in the Pier Arts Centre Christmas Exhibition…..
http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16616
I feel that I could reach out and touch the shoulder of that person.
How do they do it - take a pencil and draw something which is see-though, and flesh which I feel I can touch?
It’s a marvel to me.
*************************************************************
His deep round voice resonates
against my thin apartment walls
the next door neighbor dog howls
the vapid sound of loneliness
My dog Bobo howls in solidarity
and seems confused when chastised
for this is no ambulance siren
but a real fellow in distress
And I am this close to joining
the howl not from solitude
but from your absence.
https://bartbarkerpoet.com/2024/02/12/too-long-too-long/
This reminds me of a story someone told me….
He was in an hotel room, and could hear a woman sobbing next door. She was just quietly, evenly, sobbing and her sobbing went on and on.
He wondered why – but did nothing. I asked would he not have thought to knock on the door and ask could he help in any way? No - he’s not someone who would do that – childhood repressions have a lot to answer for.
I suppose one difference is - I’m female - so the sobbing woman might feel more at ease if a woman knocked and asked, than a man.
Still – I believe it would have been a kindness to at least try.
What was the story there?
In the poem, the description of the dog howling got to me. I thought – ‘A person could take action – the dog couldn’t - except for howling’ - then I realised that maybe the woman’s sobbing, was howling – coming from an equal sense of powerlessness?
********************************************************************
Add your comment
