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But Is It Art? by Alarie Tennille

12/10/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
Bird in Space, by Constantin Brancusi (b. Romania). Variations of this sculpture were created throughout the '20s and '30s.
But Is It Art?

In 1928, Brancusi’s Bird in Space
stood trial.

U.S. Customs refused to call it art,
taxed it as kitchenware. They looked
too hard for feathers and claws.

Gone are the wings,
but not the flight.
It swoops ­–
sharp beak, flared tail –
part missile, part dolphin –
yet still so very bird,
bronzed in sunlight.

Brancusi captured what mattered –
even your reflection.
​
Alarie Tennille

This poem was written as part of the 20 Poem Challenge.
​
Alarie Tennille was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Virginia in the first class admitting women. She became fascinated by fine art at an early age, even though she had to go to the World Book Encyclopedia to find it. Today she visits museums everywhere she travels and spends time at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, where her husband is a volunteer guide. Alarie’s poetry book, Running Counterclockwise, contains many ekphrastic poems. Please visit her at 
alariepoet.com.
4 Comments
Tricia Knoll link
12/10/2016 04:42:32 pm

Lovely work, Alarie.

Reply
Sylvia Vaughn
12/10/2016 05:11:24 pm

Yes, it's art, and the poet's words capture why so beautifully.

Reply
Tammy Daniel
12/11/2016 10:23:38 am

One of the things I love most about Alarie's ekphrastic poetry is not just how she captures what is seen in the art but her expertise in uncovering what is unseen. Somehow, whether intentional or not, her writing often includes a profound wisdom easily missed if not fully digested by the reader such as "Gone are the wings, but not the flight." I wonder how many of us have experienced a wing-clipping throughout our lives, whether physical or spiritual or even in the process and submission of our writing? Yet, the flight remains. In the end, it is the reflection of our existence that matters to not only ourselves but to those who love us. Soar on my friends--wingless or not!

Reply
Alarie Tennille link
12/11/2016 02:58:53 pm

Thank you, Tricia, Sylvia, and Tammy for taking the time to comment. You sure brightened my dark winter day!

Reply



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