Like a ship’s maidenhead
reimagined
for a machine on wheels,
she is poised
for action,
knees bent like those
of a diver,
gracefully streamlined
in art nouveau design.
She is, seemingly,
a type of female Mercury,
a goddess of speed,
wings tilted upwards
as well as her chin,
holding forth a
wheel
as though the wind
will turn it.
Though frozen
and still
in sculpted metal,
she is full
of motion.
© Susan Joy Clark 2021
This poem was written for a dVerse Poetics challenge, where we were challenged to choose one of 12 minimalistic photos by Glenn A. Buttkus for poetic inspiration. Glenn is a poet who contributes to dVerse challenge and also has a site for his minimalistic photography.
Such lovely, lovely descriptions “a goddess of speed, wings tilted upwards as well as her chin, holding forth a wheel,”.. I love the passion which you have infused in this poem. Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt 💝💝
Thank you, Sanaa. You are always so encouraging. 🙂
I love those old hood ornaments and you’ve brought this frozen goddess to life with your words.
Thank you, Jade. 🙂
You’re welcome.
How lovely!
Thank you, Lucy. 🙂
Excellent title
Excellent title
Excellent title
Excellent title
Absolutely lovely (and the title is good too)
Ha ha. Thank you, Ron. 🙂
Lovely description, Susan 🙂 Of course, she’s a female Mercury! 🙂
Thank you, Sunra. 🙂 <3
I love your poetic description of the hood ornament. She is a beautiful piece of work.
Thank you, Dwight. I enjoy this style of art as well.
:>)
frozen motion. beautiful.
Thank you, Ron. 🙂
Female figure of Mercury.
A stellar image-sorry message cut short by clumsy morning fingers.
Ha ha. I have that problem myself sometimes. 🙂 Thanks, K.
Just when I try to work on my phone. Seems like a whole different experience. Appreciate you understanding.
A lovely description Susan! I love:
‘She is, seemingly,
a type of female Mercury,
a goddess of speed,’
You got that just right!
Thank you, Ingrid.
Something about the description being uncertainty versus this is what it is appealed to me. It’s uncommon for the poets narrative voice to be descriptive in a questioning way (I think this is what this is).
I guess you mean my use of “seemingly.” I’m glad it had an appealing effect for you. 🙂 I don’t think there really is a female parallel to Mercury in ancient mythology, but it does seem the designer was probably inspired by that idea. She is kind of in her own unique category but very attractive and interesting in any case. Thanks T.J.
Cool poem inspired by chrome 🙂
Thanks so much, Lynn.
Mercury as female … got to love it. Your poem is beautifully composed. Loved it.
Thank you, Helen.
More than anything she is a symbol of a time when we still believed in a future with full speed ahead.
She surely does feel as those she’s in constant motion. Well done!
Thank you, Susan.