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Guernica

Posted: 11 May 2013, 07:48
by Billy
Guernica

"I paint the objects for what they are."
--Picasso


The horse launches a missile from his mouth,
or a rotten tooth. The sun is a light bulb, or
a light bulb emits light like the rays of a sun
drawn by a child. An arm broken off. A sword

broken. Orifices. Bullet holes. Bomb craters.
War hands prophesy suffering. Destiny etched
in their pleas. They all are saying something
that means nothing, but not to each other.

The galloping horse looks backwards in terror.
Like the wind, an angel descends from falling
buildings, holding a lamp, the flame a leaf--
peace--burning beneath the blackening sun.

No one would believe. They yell, can't be
heard above explosions. The woman's nipples
are detonators. The bull is a god with big balls.
He looks backwards, too, destruction follows.

Re: Guernica

Posted: 13 Jul 2013, 08:13
by IapCharon
Dear Billy,

I like this even though it explains a known masterpiece...sometimes that's important...like interpreting the sun, like explaining the meaning of a moon battered by a storm. I like the poem for it's almost absent stance....in not trying to drown a master's craft the poem holds a candle to it...please consider:

Guernica
["I paint the objects for what they are." --Picasso]...I understand the urge to explain the source and credit the master early...but I believe the quote comes tad too soon...I would hold on to the surprise, let the reader work harder for the candy.

The horse launches a missile from his mouth[,](.)
[or a rotten tooth]. The sun is a light bulb(.)[,] [or
a light bulb emits light](bright) like (a hand drawn) [the rays of a] sun
[drawn by a child]. [An arm] A broken (arm)[off]. A (broken) sword

broken orifices. Bullet holes. Bomb craters.

[War hands prophesy suffering. Destiny etched
in their pleas.] They [all] are saying something
that means nothing,
[but] not to each other.

[The] (A) galloping horse looks back[wards] in terror {horror?}.
[Like the wind,] an angel descends from falling
buildings, holding a lamp, the flame a leaf--

[peace--]burning beneath [the] (a) black[ening] sun.

No one would believe [. They] (in) yell(s), (that) can't be [/b]
heard above explosions. The woman's nipples
are detonators. The bull is a god with big balls.

[He looks backwards, too, destruction follows.]

Re: Guernica

Posted: 13 Jul 2013, 10:36
by Billy
Charon,

I like much of your editing of my poem. It did need the pruning you gave it. I will consider your changes in my continuing struggle with this poem.
Thanks for taking the time to consider my meagre poem.

Billy

Re: Guernica

Posted: 12 Aug 2013, 01:31
by FrankDyer
Great response to modern art, although it does mean something very profound this painting.