
Henri Rousseau, La Promenade dans la Foret (The Walk in the Forest) (c. 1886), oil on canvas
Dappled
Shadows of leaves stipple the ground
in swirling patterns, all around,
like footsteps left by tiny feet
dancing to the wind’s wild beat.
They lessen as the sun goes down
and the forest floor turns brown.
The sunlight that all day has made
each leaf stand out as dappled shade
sinks into some other sky,
but soon enough, the moon comes by
with shadows of its own to cast.
With wind died down, their patterns last,
sure and steady, through the night,
each ringed by the moon’s soft light.
Staunch resident of the heavens, the moon—
your constancy our guide and boon—
the pathway that your light lays down
brings my lover from the town
to stand beneath my bedroom pane,
handsome, gentle and urbane,
to nightly plead my hand and troth.
Soft call of bird and wing of moth
likewise beat against the glass,
supporting what will come to pass.
Our passion, soon to come to light,
was birthed in shadows of the night
whereas the light that without fail
will fall upon my wedding veil
will be the dappled light of sun,
revealing what the moon has won.
For dVerse Poets
A beautiful response to the painting – the imagery and the tale.
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Thanks, Lillian. My “walk” took me a bit away from the picture, but at least originated there.
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Very well written poem, Judy.
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Thanks, Dwight.
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You are welcome!
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Beautiful written 💜
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Thanks, Maggie. I appreciate your comment.
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A very awesome piece 👍
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Thanks, Aptivi. Glad you enjoyed it…
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My pleasure. Have a nice day, Judy! ☺️
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Wow. Just… wow.
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Thanks for your supportive response, Kim. Wow, back.
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A very sweet and romantic poem Judy
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Thanks, Sadie.
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You’re very welcome
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Great title, Judy, I love the words ‘dappled’ and ‘stippled’, and the way your poem progresses from shadows to sunlight and ends up with the moon. A gentle poem.
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very nice exphrastic
bravo
Thanks for dropping by my blog
much love
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Thanks for the bravo and the love!
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I like how you expanded each stanza until the final one and brought it back. An exploration in verse.
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Thanks for your close reading and summation of the poem, Melissa.
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Quite superb, Judy. The play of light and its sources during day and night so well rendered
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