I’ve been collaborating with local artists, mostly from Nickel Plate Arts, to do ekphrastic pieces.
Ekphrastic: a poem inspired by a work of art
Our group also does it backwards, where the painter is inspired by a poem. I’m happy to show off a painting the talented Alys Caviness-Gober made for my poem, Carnival World. Her painting is currently on display at Earth Far in Noblesville, IN. The poem won 1st place in a state poetry contest sponsored by the Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs. It’s so fun collaborating with other artistic people! Like a shot of caffeine.
CARNIVAL WORLD
When the carnival left
the fairgrounds bore
the alien imprint
of crop circles in the grass.
The merry-go-round
left the round ghost
of the landing site
of a flying saucer.
Where are the inhabitants
of this fleeting world
that still smells of deep-fried adrenaline?
Where the monuments they erected
of metal bars and canvas?
What means their last message:
the trampled echo of calliope music?
They flew away
through colorful stars
Ferris wheel galaxies
and left behind the litter of
a space, a time.
