Blue is gone
swept up by bird wings
and sky-glitter drips only
in the bright trickle of bird call
sun yellow lapped up by buttercups.
Wind blows from the north
cold is coming
red as ice
cutting bone and marrow
and what will poor robin do then?
Hands flutter scattering food
we watch fear pass along the lane
holding breath
waiting
listening to the ocean roar among cloud billows
seeping rain
a a a
dream cries from the depths
run please the black is coming
breath belching where the tractor rumbles
over the wild hill.
Sleep whispers from her blue yellow boat
(waves heaving rain streaming)
the storm is close
but but but
there are cracks in the sky
and beyond
we can see the stars.
Jane Dougherty Writes 
Just saw this painting on a website of his collected works. Thanks for the poem and for introducing his work as well.
I’m glad you like his work. They are dreamlike, light over darkness, and they appeal to me much more than the Surrealist dream style.
But the two you’ve used as illustrations are the two that stood out most to me. Same taste. I actually love all of his portraits, but the one you chose the best. And the boat appealed immediately.
I love his boat paintings, the flower one in particular, but the blue one is mysterious.
It’s as if nature is wrapping back up in itself, leaving us without color and maybe facing nature’s own judgment. Considering the power in that, it’s ominous. It’s good that we can see the stars, though they might be out of reach.
I enjoy the image you selected.
Thank you. We’re experiencing a two day relapse of winter with the threat of snow in the night. We didn’t even get sleet this winter so I hope they’re wrong. Grey and cold though and the buttercups that have just opened look terrified.
Odilon Redon is one of my favourites.
The Oracle loves Redon (and Franz Marc). 😀 This is another dreamy one–I feel like she’s giving a message–almost like a parable. I like the hope at the end.
Thank you. Yes, she leaves hope quite often these days and she’s a big fan of Redon (and Franz Marc of course) 🙂
😀
We are cold and dreary again as well (inside and out). It’s funny she brought up robins. I finally ventured out early this morning and heard them right away. And then two walked across the path in front of me.
Redon’s boat would definitely find a crack in the sky to see the stars…(K)
I hope more people find the beauty in what is being revealed. Stripped back. Might make us keener to sail in blue boats than accumulate more trash.
The poem is very well formed around the image, and a superb description. Thank you, Jane! Have a nice evening! Michael
Thank you, Michael. Don’t stay up too late 🙂
Will try, but have enough coffee to do. 😉
Coffee is the miracle drug.
But it works, very fine. 😉
My first resort 🙂