“Hotel Lobby, 1943,” by Edward Hopper
Ladies and Gentlemen
Legs are the last to go,
draped in silk or cotton;
unlike neck or bottom
that, despite treatments, show
wrinkled, unrisen dough,
overcooked, coiled ramen.
Dicks are the first to go,
hungry prima donas,
brainless, seek nirvanas;
power, lust make them grow
-- until one day they don’t.
Blue pill popped iguana.
Affix in mind, above
shells of this life, love. Love.
HexSonnetta form
The very first things I noticed in the painting (after recognizing it as a Hopper) were the two women’s legs, and I used them as the seeds. Please note that the poem is intended to be light-hearted.
Sanaa is today’s host for dVerse’ Open Link Night. Sanaa has presented us with Edward Hopper’s painting and asked us to write an ekphrastic poem inspired by the art. Not to brag or anything – ok, I’m bragging — but our local museum provides a home to Hopper’s, New York Restaurant.

Ha– love the way you included the legs, and that man seems to need those blue pills.
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Bjorn, their legs were the only bright spot in the whole thing! And yes, he did. I did not imagine Hopper looked like that. And yes on the pills.
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This is such a powerful take on the Hopper painting, Lisa! I am thrilled to learn that your local museum is home to “New York Restuarant” wow .. 😍😍
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Thanks, Sanaa. About the painting: within the last year or so, it took a trip to NYC, loaned for a Hopper exhibit. I love how museums allow loans like that. We recently borrowed a bunch of the work of John Steuart Curry (Tornado Over Kansas, which we also have) for a big exhibit. It was impressive!
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:) blue pill popped – for once not political!
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:)
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I enjoyed your light-hearted hex sonetta, Lisa, and yes, I noticed the legs too. These lines are so true of most women these days:
‘unlike neck or bottom
that, despite treatments, show
wrinkled, unrisen dough,
overcooked, coiled ramen’.
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Thanks, Kim :)
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My pleasure,Lisa.
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😊 yes indeed. i luv the mood
much♡love
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Thanks, Gillena!
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Ha! I like the juxtaposition of the last line of the first stanza and the first line of the second.
“overcooked, coiled ramen.
Dicks are the first to go”
The swift transition made me laugh.🤣
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Melissa, thanks for pointing that out (figuratively) as I didn’t notice it. Now you have me laughing :)
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The rhythm is just right! That really brings the delicious humour out…! Really love this!
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Ain, pleased that you are pleased. I had fun with it.
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A light-hearted commentary, Li!
I noticed their legs, too. 😊 Maybe Hopper really liked legs.
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Thanks, Merril. I had to wonder if the blond was his mistress and his wife was wondering that same thing. Is he holding his coat to make a quick getaway?
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Interesting. I hadn’t considered that.
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I noticed the blond lady’s shoes first and like them. I’m always shopping I guess.
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They are nice shoes :)
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Funny and packed a punch – getting older is no fun.
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Thanks, Nolcha.
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i noticed the legs too!! (not the dick). but i guess that is the point since it seems to have “gone “missing”. still smiling :)
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Ren, you crack me up.
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The legs definitely stand out. And the figures deliberately makes a triangle. So your comment about wife and mistress seems possible. (K)
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Ah! K, didn’t notice that triangle! At least not consciously!
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Our minds have their own minds.
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like nesting dolls. maybe it’s minds all the way down…
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Probably.
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What an interesting take on the painting, Lisa.
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Thanks, Dwight! Like I mentioned elsewhere, it started with the light on their legs and went from there.
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:>) I think you hit the nail on the head! No pun intended!
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:)
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had me chuckling, Lisa ~
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Happy to hear it :)
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Nice
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Thanks!
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Whatever he just proposed to her, she looks aghast.
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LOL maybe he suggested a threesome? Just like a man.
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Whatever it was, she wasn’t having any of it!
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Light-hearted it was Lisa! I loved this so much.
Dicks are the first to go,
hungry prima donas,
brainless, seek nirvanas;
power, lust make them grow
— until one day they don’t.
Blue pill popped iguana.
i am still laughing 🤣
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Someone, Thanks! Glad you got a giggle out of it.
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This is great!! Thanks for my morning smile. Legs are the last to go, but ….ha!
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Yvonne, glad it made you smile. I smiled as I wrote it.
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What a great imaginative write! Light hearted but serious too.
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Shaun, thank you for noticing.
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I love Edward Hopper’s work — and this piece !
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I do also. Cool, with fabulous color combinations.
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Yes, and I think he really captures light in a deep, meaningful way.
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Haha! Li, your little gem blew away the Monday blues! Love your sense of humour. ❤️😀
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Pleased as punch this hit your funny bone. Thanks :)
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You are so welcome.
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Lol this is good li :D
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Thanks much, Carol Anne :)
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