Artist :Andrew Wyeth (1992)
Image: Neglected Lawn Chair (here)
Sitting pretty, forlornly by itself
Had seen better days now neglected
Mystical and mysterious of elements
Seemed slowly inching away from
its usual spot at the corner of the porch
It appeared suspiciously in a
despicable attempt to run away
to follow Gramps to his last journey
Fickleness in perfection
Was at one time under the oak tree
Then in the middle of the backyard
Now out there nearer to the
rolling meadows of long grass
Strangely enough no one from
the house had ever confessed nor
remembered having touched it
Used to be Gramp's favorite chair
He had carried it to various spots
around the compound of the house
before sitting depending on his mood
He liked a change of scenery
every now and then he reasoned
Was it programmed to eerily move
by itself now that Gramps had gone?
For Bjorn's at d'Verse's OLN #174 and
Margaret's Artistic Interpretations on
A. Wyeth's works at Real Toads
A phantom lawn chair. Perhaps Grandpa hasn't really left. Great poem.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like this a hint of mystery perhaps Gramps is still enjoying different views.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think so, smiles ~ Poor neglected chair...
ReplyDeleteI agree, this poem leaves one with a sense of mystery and a deep longing to learn more..! Beautifully penned.
ReplyDeleteI think the chair simply missed its master... Lovely piece,
ReplyDeleteYes Hank as others say a hint of mystry here.
ReplyDeleteWell written and thought provoking.
Yvonne.
Some believe our energy leaves an imprint on our surroundings. I'm not about that but it certainly is food for thought that move that chair. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is such fun - I can envisage your Gramps carrying his chair around, because that is what I have to do these days!
ReplyDeleteYou have a stray "of" in the 4th stanza.
Thanks Viv, corrected.
DeleteMaybe gramps was still about, rocking that chair with the air
ReplyDeleteI like thinking that the chair had gotten used to varying vistas and is now choosing its own. Good one, Hank!
ReplyDeleteMaybe chair is looking for Gramps, like a faithful old dog, maybe chair misses him?
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
great use of imagination for this old chair with a life of its own(er)
ReplyDeleteAh, my grandpa had a chair but it stayed on the front porch and everyone knew that it was grandpa's chair! Very nice, Hank
ReplyDeleteOh how I enjoyed this, the travelling chair. The neglected chair. The mysterious chair.
ReplyDelete"Was at one time under the oak tree
ReplyDeleteThen in the middle of the backyard
Now out there nearer to the
rolling meadows of long grass"
a beautiful metaphor for stages of life.
I love the idea of the rocking chair trying to follow Gramps on his last journey.
ReplyDeleteI've always adored Wyeth's art. There is so much of the earth in his paintings. Cristina (sp?) is one of my favorites -- looking, the wind apparent, the grasses. This painting I love also -- just the tip of the house/cabin in the left of the scene -- and the abandoned rocking chair. But now, with your words, we can see it's not abandonded. The grandfather is still with us, rocking here and there --- What a lovely sentiment you've created here! I enjoyed this very much. Read it twice and looked at the painting quite closely. Your words have pulled me in! Truly enjoyed reading this over my morning cup! So nice to meet you here :)
ReplyDeleteOh!! I love the story you've created for this chair...much enjoyed, Hank!
ReplyDeleteLove the story of a chair with a mind of its own. Reminds me a bit of the song "my grandfather's clock. "
ReplyDeleteIt's so great how "things" can hold such personal memories that mean so much.
ReplyDeleteThere is energy connected to beloved items. It is like a living memory...beautiful
ReplyDelete