Update! I have an app called TinEye that searches the internet for matches of images. Looky what I found! At wikiart.org it says the name of the work is, “Portrait of Nan,” by Grant Wood and is dated 1933.
Update 2: OMG. After learning who the artist was and the name of the painting, I dug a little deeper. The subject in this painting is the same woman who is the subject in one of the most famous American paintings out there, “American Gothic.” Nan is the artist, Grant Wood’s, sister, and she took a lot of mean comments for how she looked in the first painting. As an apology, Grant did this one of her. Read more about Grant and Nan Wood here.
Jerry insisted I take a day off from canning peaches to have Mr. Jonas from Prairie Times come out to do one of those what they call “human interest stories.”
We’ve been farming all of our lives. We grew up on adjoining farms. Our mothers are best friends. Jerry and I have known each other from the beginning.
About ten years after we got married, Jerry’s dad was gored by a cranky boar in mating season. He died of something they call Merza [sic.] My dad passed about a year later in a tractor accident. His ribs were stove in and crushed his heart.
We farm both parcels together now and ended up taking on some help. No, God never graced us with young’ns.
Mr. Jonas asks if he can take my picture holding some of the farm in my hands. I say OK. Then he and Jerry walk out to the John Deere so he can take one of Jerry.
Poached eggs, sourdough toast,
and jam for breakfast –
Sheets dry on the line.
I found this woman’s image in my collage boxes and have written a modified haibun for her.
Mish is today’s host of dVerse‘ Poetics. Mish says:
…Option #2 From your own collection … choose a photo where the eyes speak to you, express an emotion or lure you in. What do you see? What are their eyes saying? What is their story?
Tao Talk 
I’m amazed you discovered that story in the eyes of the woman in the picture, Lisa! There’s so much detail, especially the deaths of the two fathers. I sense regret that they never had children, so she makes do with chicks and her daily routine.
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Well it started with her eyes but then it took in the rest of her. One of my elementary school friends’ family up and left the city for a farming life. This woman looks a little like her and her name is Donna so I built a story from it. I like what you see in her story, Kim.
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I love the story you found, the hardship and sorrow, but also the joy in simple life…
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Exactly, Bjorn. Life will have its fair share of it all. Thank you for your comment.
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That pragmatic “life goes on” tone of a life inured to suffering is captured so realistically here, Lisa, as well as the simple comfort and joy found in daily life. Well done.
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Dora, thank you, and if ever there was a time for pragmatism it is now.
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The eyes are so enchanting, it’s incredible what story they convey 😊
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Thanks much, Hannah 🙂
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It’s a pleasure 🙂
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WOW…it is fascinating the way an image can take you on a journey and yours was a first class tour of brilliant writing. I love the dialogue of thoughts, the random, graphic details that just humanized the whole experience. WOW again.
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Mish, your comment makes my day. Thank you ❤
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Haibun perfection, poetic grace, realistic dialogue and tremendous sense of place. You kicked it out of the park!
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Oh my pleased as punch by your feedback, Glenn ❤
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This is fantastic!
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Thank you!
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Well done, Lisa. Your haiku cements that pragmatic aspect that Dora mentions.
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Ken, thank you and glad you see it also.
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Heartbreaking and yet full of heart. There is both sorrow and wisdom in a well-lived life. The image of the sheets says it all. (K)
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Kerfe, thank you for what you see in it.
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We don’t pay enough attention to “ordinary” lives.
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YOU’RE RIGHT
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Haibunilicious!
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🙂 Many thanks, Ron!
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Its amazing how you can create a story out of the photo. I enjoyed the details of her life in the farm.
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Thank you, Grace. I was able to find a better pic of her on the internet if you want to look again.
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Beautiful how you take the reader into her life, Lisa.
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Eugi thank you very much. Glad you liked it.
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Most welcome, Lisa! 😊
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You’ve a wonderful imagination my friend
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Thank you, Sadje ❤
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You’re welcome
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a probably story, glad you found her painter!
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🙂
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A very interesting story Lisa. I like what you have done with her eyes. They seem to have a deep sadness embedded in them.
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Thank you, Dwight. They really drew me in.
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That is really cool Lisa…love the pic
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Yes it is, the more I learned the cooler it got.
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I have it book marked on the link you set out. I love that style of art.
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I also learned that American Gothic is in the Chicago Institute of Art which is about 3 hours from here. Once the world settles down, I would love to go for a weekend in Chi and visit the institute and go back to the Hall of Jade in the Museum of Science and Industry again. Tiffany’s Mermaid stained glass hangs there. It’s one panel he refused to sell. His son has it on loan to the museum.
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I have heard that of course…the institute. You are not far away at all…that is cool. I love going to museums…any museums…even small ones.
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I do also! I’ve driven and even walked past that institute but never went in. I’ve been to the science museum a couple of times, once as a kid and once as an adult. They also have Shedd Aquarium, which is an amazing place to see all kinds of different water creatures. They are all kind of in the same area, near Lake MI.
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I just read the article…very cool. American Gothic reminds me of The Grapes of Wrath right away.
I went to Chicago once but didn’t get to get out and see much. I would love to go again…see the sights and the Cubs.
I would also like to go to the Smithsonian…Jennifer and I have talked about it.
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A lovely post, Lisa…
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Thank you, Judy.
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The tug of memories, the nostalgia, the inspiration makes for a very interesting haibun response. Lovely read.
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💝love
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Gillena, thank you for your thoughtful comment. You’re welcome 🙂
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I love the glimpse of a life you created with your lines, and then to compare with the original artwork and the story behind it is really interesting. An original and creative approach to the challenge!
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Thanks, Ingrid! It was satisfying finding more about the person in the picture.
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There’s something stripped raw about this, Lisa. You pared away any flourishes her life might have had, but I expect there weren’t many any way. It feels so desolate to me, but the image I have of farming in the middle of nowhere, especially for a woman, fills me with dread.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Jane. It is a way of life she is used to as she has known no other.
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No dreams. It’s sad though.
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What a great story behind the story. Grant Wood is just the right artist to be attached to your own story too. (K)
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🙂
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The reader of eyes, a teller of fortune lived, just love this haibun.
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Paul, many thanks and very pleased you enjoyed it.
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