I am no poet and yet, here’s one highly influenced by this oil painting by Ruppert Lindemann. Happy #FridayFlash everyone!
Xeric
He stands by the road, hands pleading to the sun
He prays for the rain to come and drown him
Kills his sorrow, chokes his heart, dissolves his soul.
The cracked ground will engulf him, he waits.
The vultures will pick at his face and beak out his eyes, he prays.
copyright Ruppert Lindemann
The sun will burn him to oblivion, he cries.
The day slips away and leaves him stranded
With nothing: no blade, no gun, no poison
And this thirst to die that never ends.
Anne Michaud 
July 7th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I’m not a big fan of poetry, but I liked this piece. The last line is excellent.
July 7th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Thanks, Dani:)
July 7th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Wow inciteful and invocative.
Thanks Anne.
July 7th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
No, thank YOU Gareth for taking the time to stop by:)
July 7th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I do like poetry, and I agree, ‘thirst to die’ now that’s a fantastic line right there. Nicely done. 🙂
July 7th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Thanks, The Tamster. It could work as a title, too…food for thoughts…
July 7th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Poor shadow without substance, doomed to live forever against a wall and yet not touching it.
July 8th, 2011 at 7:27 am
It’s a ghost. And he’s behind you…
July 8th, 2011 at 8:18 am
Anne – you make me laugh and shiver at the same time. “It’s a ghost. And he’s behind you…”
July 8th, 2011 at 8:20 am
Di, I think that’s why I write – a smile turns into fright…
July 8th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
The last line is really great! This poem is very haunting – I like the image it conjures up.
July 8th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Thanks, Sonia:)
July 8th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
A poem for life, (or existentialist lack thereof). Excellent stuff
July 8th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Wow, Marc. Thanks – it’s my first, not my last:)
July 8th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Like reading something out of an old myth here – beautiful language.
‘The day slips away and leaves him stranded’ – Ache-worthy and lovely.
July 8th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
I don’t know what to say but thanks – really, thank you:) Ah, ache-worthy…yes!
July 8th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Just lovely. And that is a killer [no pun intended] last line.
July 8th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Thanks, Tim… killer indeed:)
July 8th, 2011 at 11:44 pm
The poem captures his sense of impossibility that provides a frame to the whole. Moving. (BTW, intriguing paintings.)
July 9th, 2011 at 8:11 am
Thanks Aidan!
July 9th, 2011 at 7:42 am
You really captured the mood of the painting. Well done!
July 9th, 2011 at 8:11 am
Thanks, Icy!!
July 9th, 2011 at 8:45 am
Heartfelt and insightful. Nice work Anne!
Hey! Why am I not on your blogroll? 🙂
July 9th, 2011 at 8:48 am
Thanks, Pat!! Crapadoodle – I’m forgetting people all over the place! Forgive me:)
July 9th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
I love the way your words play with the painting; like it’s somehow sentient and I’m picking up its discarded thoughts. Just awesome.
July 9th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Thanks, Mr. Gideon:)
July 9th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
For someone who won’t call herself a poet, this is quite a nice poem! I really liked the last strophes.
July 9th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Thanks so much, Mari – I do, too:)
July 9th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
What a lovely poem. Heartbreaking, actually. Well done! I think you are a poet, you just didn’t know it. 😉
July 9th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Anita, what a nice surprise! Thanks – a heart breaking is one of my favorite sounds:)
July 9th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll Anne 🙂
July 10th, 2011 at 7:45 am
No prob:)
July 10th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I’m no expert, but loved it. Quite harrowing. You should write more like this.
July 10th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Thanks, Mr Smith:)