"COSMIC WANDERLUST"
By Michiko Itatani
The “Cosmic Wanderlust” is a 96" X 78" oil painting. It was painted by Michiko Itatani in 2010 as part of a series based on the “human desire to reach out into the mental and physical space beyond our grasp, inward and outward.” Itatani recently donated this painting to Goshen College.
In this painting, I see what appears to be an elegant ballroom or a theater hall. In trying to write the poem assigned for this week’s homework, I struggled to decide which voice I wanted to be: 1) a person, an object, or the paint itself; 2) the painter; or 3) me, the poet, perceiving the art.
This painting transported me to a ballroom in a fairy-tale story, where I can be the main character. Simultaneously, it inspired me a sense of amusement and wanted to express that feeling as a viewer. At the same time, since we have been trying to interpret what the painter might want to express in the painting, I could be the artist and explain my piece of art in a poem. Well, this is what I came up with:
Lights On!
Turn the lights on,
Let’s give this room a sparkling twist,
All the beautiful and well-dressed ladies
are about to come.
It is time for some fun!
A graceful night of dancing and romance is approaching, and
This ballroom needs to look at its best.
With our stylish bright chandeliers
And all the other colorful blue,
red, orange, pink, yellow and
black lights hanging from the ceiling,
Before the festive spell sets in.
Their handsome partners will accompany them
dressed in black tuxedos,
ready to dance and say meaningful words to their ears.
We need to illuminate their happy faces.
We want to create an impressive and delicate atmosphere.
Where these elegant couples
will enchant each other all night,
While they dance to the music.
Our captive décor
of the beautiful long and bright purple-red
stairways throughout the ballroom,
The different shades of gray and white
of the stair rails and the walls, and
The lights around the black painted frames of the entryways
and around the staircases
Will enhance the ambiance of this great place.
It will create a night of unstoppable dancing.
It will inspire the need for these lovers
to express their love for one another.
Let’s hurry and get ready.
This ballroom is about to witness
another night of dancing and romance!
By Rocío Díaz
Source: GC News Release
I love your vivid, colorful description of the ball room and good use of phrase "sparkling twist," with the shining chandeliers and the twisting stairs. Your poem gives invitation to the viewer and makes me want to step into the painting!
ReplyDeleteBetty
Rocio, you made a colorful description of the room. Nice!
ReplyDeleteRocio, I can tell you are a dancer! I loved the way you created the excitement of anticipation in your poem, reflecting a painting of a place that seems ready to invite human interaction. You start out in the imperative oice, calling to the reader to join in with the dancing rhythms of your words. I appreciate learning to know a work of art on campus through your eyes!
ReplyDelete