Gerard Sekoto, Woman With Downcast Eyes (1955)
Blue Purpled Woman
Stepping away from sunshine
setting over open-air market,
blue face lost in contemplation.
Wishing to turn right, not left,
away from grandeur’s large-
knuckled fists, plate-sized
palms that visit carefully-hid
bits of now purpled flesh. Only
hawk eyes notice my wince
lifting bushels of persimmons.
His lips smack at the Snoek*,
distracted. Greasy fingers
ignore napkins, rubbing clean
on my second best work dress
instead. My breath calmed by
this new life in red womb. She
will not dread in gilded cage.
Her wings will spread to sky.
He sinks Three Ships**, keels
to bed. I hone traded Okapi.***
*Snoek is South African smoked snoek fish.
**Three Ships is a South African whiskey.
***South African knife.
Tao-Talk 
This is a good fit.
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Thank you, Ken.
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I like the way you’ve turned it into an entire life story. (K)
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K, thank you. There is a life story in this painting.
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I hope her wings do “spread to sky.” This is a vivid, moving poem
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Lisa, thanks very much.
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South African references appreciated. Three Ships whisky is a bit hard on the tongue and refers to the three ships arriving at the Cape way back in 1652. I absolutely loved: “away from grandeur’s large-knuckled fists”. The entire poem an image I relate to. That honing of the okapi at the end tells of there’s work to do that will require courage. Wonderfully written Lisa! The snoek! Almost wished I wasn’t a vegetarian.
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Petru, thank you so much and I appreciate the insider’s view.
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Would love to know how you arrived at the references? What in your life brought you to it?
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I chose the items I wanted in the poem, then searched for what is used in South Africa.
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Okay, but why South Africa? I suddenly feel ‘pushy’. If you don’t want to elaborate it’s fine.
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The images that Melissa chose for Tuesday Poetics are by Gerard Soweto, a South African artist. She wanted us to write an ekphrastic to one of the images. This is the image I chose. Since this figure is South African (my assumption) I thought why not use objects from her world. I appreciate your interest in the poem, Petru. Thank you.
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Ah! That explains it. Yes, the figure you wrote to is most definitely a South African woman. Thanks Lisa. I just wondered if maybe you had a personal connection to SA, an expat maybe. Would’ve wanted to bring you back home! 😂
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<3 :)
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Thank you for including my persimmons, Lisa! I envisioned the market from the way you set the scene briefly but vividly in the opening lines, but oh, that poor woman, trying to escape ‘large-knuckled fists, plate-sized
palms that visit carefully-hid bits of now purpled flesh’. And the way he wipes his greasy fingers on her dress says so much about him.
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Kim, you are welcome. There are too many women like her, being literally manhandled. It haunts me!
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Oh I pray for the freedom she may claim in that end…
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#metoo Bjorn
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I love the way you personified the painting to have feelings and hope.
Well done, Lisa.
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Dwight, I hoped to honor the artist with the poem. Thank you very much.
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you did very well!
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I love the painting!
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Marina, it’s one of the paintings Melissa offered us for an ekphrastic on Tuesday. She is a beauty for sure.
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The woman in the painting seems to have a story and you gave her a powerful one.
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Truedessa, I tried. Thank you.
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Excellent write, Lisa. Very visual, I was right there.
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Pamela, thank you.
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Thanks for a great challenge Lisa, I found your interpretation of the painting fascinating .. a direction I would not have considered. It’s perfect.
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You’re welcome and thanks very much, Helen <3
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The pain she hides is heartbreaking, yet the vibrant hope she also hides for her unborn makes the reader encouraged by her determination. A well-spun ekphrastic, Li.
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Jennifer thank you for your empathy for this young woman and her unborn child <3
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Perfect, Li. I can read the story on her countenance now you’ve told it!
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:)
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i think she’s going to kill him with a calm and surgical demeanor.
i find this poem to be somewhat out of character for you Li. am i barking up the wrong tree?
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Eric, it’s not the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last :::evil cackling:::
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You did very well Lisa, to give an insight into things South African. It gives further strength to the painting! Love it!
Hank
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Hank, I’m glad you connected with the poem and the painting. Thank you.
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