The Sleeping Gypsy, by Henri Rousseau
Night Music
In respite of cool desert sand,
emptied flagon, and full moon,
dreams prowl, sleek, well-fed,
wide awake, tickling my toes,
pulling strings, weaving icons
to archetypes made manifest.
I am a traveler, cloaked in rain-
bow, charred under daybright;
yet further landscapes open
in shadows of music’s night.
Grace is today’s host for dVerse’ Open Link Night. Grace gave us the optional image and title to be inspired by. Thanks for this one.
Tao Talk 
I’ve been encountering those dreams a lot lately, Lisa, and they are indeed sleek and well-fed. I just wish they’d stop tickling my toes and let me sleep! I love these lines:
‘I am a traveler, cloaked in rain-
bow, charred under daybright’.
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haha, Kim :) Glad you enjoyed those lines.
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“traveler cloacked in raonbow”
nice image
much♡love
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Thanks, Gillena. I enjoyed your Rengay with David also.
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I love how the dreams are active like the lion with: dreams prowl, sleek, well-fed,
wide awake, tickling my toes.
You also captured the traveler’s search for adventures. Thanks for capturing the scene with your poetic brush.
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Thanks so much for your feedback, Grace <3
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The imagery in every line of your poem really heightens the surreal world within the dream. Hope I am making sense? Once again, I really love this one very much.
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Charlie, thanks for sharing what you see in it.
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You welcome, Lisa. :)
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Very nice poem, Lisa. I like the way you divided the painting into reality and dreams!
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Thanks much, Dwight. It seems clear to me the traveler is dreaming.
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I believe your are right.
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This is magical, Lisa. I LOVE that last stanza. “I am a traveler, cloaked in rainbow…” Fabulous imagery!!
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Colleen, I tried to speak to the imagery in the painting. Thanks much.
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Dreamshadows are full of music–wonderful take on this magical painting, a favorite of mine. (K)
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<3
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I think she lifted the flute and played. Or is it an empty flask?
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I thought it was a walking stick in her hand, but maybe it is a flute. The “flask” is off to the side. It works in either case for me :)
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I read this thrice, delighting in it more with each reading. A wonderful blend of reality and dreamscapes beatifully woven together
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Pleased that you took time with it and happy that enjoyed it :) Nice to “see” you, Dale.
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I did! Yeah, I sneak a break now and again and try to read a few posts. I won’t be seeing the light until November 1. Sometimes I hate tourism season!
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I appreciate knowing why you’ve been scarce. Happy you are sneaking breaks now and again. See you in November (if not before then now and again.) <3
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Not by choice, I can assure you! I am definitely going to do a Walktober so there is that… 💞
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Is that where you walk tourists around town?
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Haha! Nope. I’m not a tourist guide (yet) – it’s where I participate in Dawn’s (Change is Hard) Walktober. It used to be Robin (Breezes at Dawn) who hosted it. Just a bunch of fall images shared.
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Ah ok
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Really dug this one, Lisa, esp “daybright”
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Ron, happy you did :)
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I love the line break in rain – bow..and beautiful imagery immersing us in the story of the painting – Jae
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Jae, so happy it pleased you <3
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Wonderful imagery that adds much to the image, bringing it to life and accentuating its features. Nicely done, Lisa!
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Steve, thanks so much. Happy you feel it does.
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You’re welcome, Lisa!
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you captured the desert Li. I love this line
I am a traveler, cloaked in rain-
bow, charred under daybright;
Beautiful 🥰
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<3 <3 <3
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Beautifully done Li
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Thank you, Sadje :)
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You’re welcome my friend
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I love Henri Rousseau and your interpretation of this painting, especially how you describe the lion as “dreams prowl. sleek, well-fed.”
I also love “I am a traveler, cloaked in rain-
bow…”
🙂
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Sunra, thank you very much.
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Loved where you traveled with this one. I felt the lion was symbolic of strength and courage. Her journey has been a difficult one and her walking stick has taken her many miles, I think.
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Truedessa you see her <3
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Beautifully imaginative!
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Rosemary, many thanks.
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Who would not dream of a sleek, well-fed lion tickling their toes as they sleep in the cool nightime sands, Li – beautifully evoked…
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Andrew, thanks much :)
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To be a traveller like this… that’s what dreams are for
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Indeed, Bjorn. Now if you could shift out of your nightmares and become the lion…
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That is so mysterious…I like it.
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The dream world is wonderfully mysterious.
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