Your first encounter with his mind
wearing knee breeches, opaque stockings,
a silk shirt with holes in the front
(smeared with dung)
You had a fascination
for his practice of Candaulism.
He impressed you.
Crutches, a representation of
mankind’s need for religion,
with support of persistence of memory
and three dancing watches.
Rigid and unyielding,
worn by the masses
forever in haste.
A moat around your home.
He carefully placed crucifixes
in a room for adoration,
as ants crawl round symbolizing death.
He is The Hallucinogenic Toreador,
coupled with the Venus de Milo.
Above his bed hangs a painting titled,
Portrait of My Dead Brother,
(although they never met).
Like a Raphaelesque Head Exploding,
Lifting canvases through
a slit in the floor where a
Dematerialization Near the Nose of Nero
is standing below a Portrait of
Gala With Two Lamb Chops Balanced on Her Shoulder.
"It is mostly with your blood, Gala, that I paint my pictures”
Posts
A little crazy - a little weird - a lot good.
ReplyDeleteOld Ollie,
ReplyDeleteI used a lot of his painting titles in this.
Yes, he was weird but then so was she. How could you possibly present yourself with dung smeared on your chest and have someone fall for you? Well that is what really happened. I love his artwork just the same.
Pamela
I picked up on those painting titles. I dig Dali! I've got a HUGE coffee table book (almost big enough to BE a coffee table) featuring most of his paintings. I hope to one day go to the Salvadore Dali museum down in St. Petersburg, Florida.
ReplyDeleteEric, it is a fantastic museum. I lived in St. Pete for some years before moving to Mexico. My daughter loved Dali almost more than me and she asked to go on the guided tour 3 times in 2 years. So I got to know more of him and his work.
ReplyDeleteA strange fellow but most enjoyable.
Pamela
I am glad to have read the comments and to find out that this was about Dali.. I truly cannot imagine the dung, but it takes all kinds. Sometimes it is good to appreciate artwork and not know all the behind-the-scenes. I would say the same would be true of someone like Frida Kahlo. Perhaps we poets too, I think. Perhaps it is best our words are taken at face value without delving into our 'selves.' Hmm, I wonder. Your poem has me thinking.
ReplyDeleteWow this is a very erudite poem, and so well written. Love the lamb chops balanced on her shoulders.............
ReplyDeleteSherry,
ReplyDeleteThanks and you should look up the painting, he did a quite a few paintings of Gala. And he signed most of his painting with the quotation.
Pamela
This poem is a work of art all its own, Pamela! I have always admired the weird and wonderful Dali, and I love your use of his painting titles to sketch a picture of the artist for us...very clever and entertaining...:)
ReplyDeleteTrue story Mary upon their first meeting, he cut holes in his silk shirt and put donkey dung on his nipples. But that didn't dissuade Gala, she knew she had a goldmine. I am not a big fan of her. Dali however is intriguing. Weird, strange but talented.
ReplyDeletePamela
imaginationlane,
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a nice compliment. I truly appreciate it.
Pamela
creepy and moving,
ReplyDeletepowerful weirdness.
well done,
Jingle well I am not so sure he was the creep, but Gala definitely was. Thanks.
ReplyDeletePamela
Dali is par excellence, way above. His creations appear weird. Even his facial expression most times appear funny . But he produced gems. You did very well to capture idiosyncrasies in a talented artist.
ReplyDeletekaykuala,
ReplyDeleteYes, he did. Although in the art world, he was called a con-artist instead of surrealist. Kind of harsh words coming from some very untalented
people. Thanks for the visit.
Pamela
A fascinating poem, Pamela, followed by lots of interesting comments. I also must commend you on your diversity of poetry styles of late! Must be all that rigorous practice during the PAD. (Ha)
ReplyDeleteDiane,
ReplyDeleteIt might be the reason. I appreciate you coming by
and leaving a nice comment. My daughter has been a huge fan of Dali, I as well. She just loved the guided tours at the museum. You learn so much about the person behind the paintbrush, so to speak.
Pamela
Ut pictura poesis! This is superb, Pamela - a wonderful balancing of narrative and commentary, which I guess is the essence of ekphrasis (a poetic genre I've never managed to master). Loved this.
ReplyDeleteDick,
ReplyDeleteI have just learnt something new, But I am always learning. I had a good time writing this. I knew I could use some of the titles of his paintings and work around them. Thanks for the visit and the comment.
Pamela