Terrasse a Sainte-Adresse
Whenever I look at this painting
reproduced in my book on Monet,
I think of the view from a balcony
over another garden and seascape.
Whenever I look at that view,
I think of the painting.
Different parts of the world
separated by a century and a half,
but the atmosphere is the same.
Vibrant sunlight and colours.
Well-tended garden, strolling figures.
Sea alive with boats large and small.
Wide, windswept sky.
A few weeks each year, I’m there
sitting on the balcony.
Open the book, that could also be me
sitting on the terrace.
Same straw hat, same rattan chair.
think it was Keith who suggested at the last session my poem could be made into a specular (hope that is how you spell it – you know when you mirror it in the second stanza but start at the end and finish at the beginning) – and perhaps this one might look good like that too – especially as you are recreating an image from the past in the present – just an idea – and it looks like you are starting to do that weird thing that real poets do when they break their lines in strange places – for the life of me I can’t work it out – Martin does it – Robbie does it – yes I have asked them how they do it – but I don’t know – you are doing it too!
Hello Jonathan, an interesting poem -I love the end, thta’s genius!.I’d omit “reproduced” in 2nd line of 1st stanza – it’s not necessary. You might think also about omitting the lines “A few weeks each year…” and just go straight to
“Open the book” (you don’t need “also”) – “that could be me” is enough and makes fora tighter, finer poem.
Oh Jonathan, that is so beautiful. The atmosphere and colour in your poem is so vivid I could be there.
Lovely images – I agree with Gill’s comments – and great last line!