Earlier this week, Tricia Stohr-Hunt posted this painting, by Gabriele Münter, on her blog, The Miss Rumphius Effect:
Tricia invited her readers to write an ekphrastic poem to go along with this painting. I was intrigued by the contrast between the birds socializing outside and the woman sitting down by herself inside. Here is my response:
This morning our old
chestnut tree,
the one you planted
all those years ago,
is wrapped in a cloak
of fine white snow.
Goldfinches and robins,
like confetti scattered in
celebration of the coming spring,
brighten its branches
as they serenade me:
“cheer-up, cheer-up, cheer-up.”
How do they know
that some days are worse than others,
and that this morning,
I miss you more than ever?
© Catherine Flynn, 2016
Thank you to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna, Beth, Kathleen, and Deb for this space for teachers and others to share their stories each Tuesday throughout the year and every day during the month of March. Be sure to visit Two Writing Teachers to read more Slice of Life posts. Also, be sure to visit Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge for the Poetry Friday Roundup.
Reading to the Core 
Very touching poem, Catherine, even more powerful in its simplicity. Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing! (Great art prompt picked by Tricia, too!)
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This is such a sweet poem about grief and loneliness. The birds notice. Nice response to the prompt.
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This poem sent chills through me, Catherine – you crafted the scene beautifully.
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Perfect. Just perfect. I’m sitting right at that table looking at that tree.
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Catherine, what a beautiful poetic response to this picture. It’s perfect. I read it and thought, “Well, of course. That’s what it’s about.” What a beautifully crafted piece from start to finish. Thank you for sharing.
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Catherine, this is so beautiful. Your “chestnut tree” grabbed me and with the “coming of spring,” “goldfinches and robin,” singing their “serenade,” I stepped into your poem — all those things speak to me of my mother, and when winter becomes spring each year, I miss her “more than ever”; I am the woman at the table.
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It’s a beautiful poem, Catherine, and the painting tells a lot too, doesn’t it? I am touched.
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Amazing how much “expression” you can glean from a painting that doesn’t even show a face. Your response touched me gently, yet deeply, Catherine.
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Beautiful poem Catherine. It’s simplicity says so much. Lovingly crafted.
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Yes…
How do they know
that some days are worse than others,
and that this morning,
I miss you more than ever?
I’m chilled too.
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Very touching, Catherine – and as Michelle said, I was pleased to see so much emotion, even though we cannot see a face.
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Catherine, nature is a great comforter but also a reminder of what was. Your representation of the artwork is beautifully rendered by your words and the emotion they convey.
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Oh! Such a poignant piece! Such a beautiful job of letting the setting inform the character.
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Beautiful. Her sadness is in that slight tilt of her head, isn’t it?
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Catherine, you made that painting make perfect sense, every bit of it. I love the birds saying “Cheer-up” and knowing how much effort the narrator is putting into trying to obey. Some days remembering is more important than a gleaming, skin-deep smile.
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Hi Catherine, I hope you don’t mind that I linked up to your wonderful poem on my World Poetry Day post. Hope you had a wonderful one.
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