The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • The Ekphrastic Academy
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead

Blue, by Sheila Stewart

2/23/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Genesis, Mary Lou Payzant (Canada) 2015. Click image for artist site.

Blue
 
​   
 And the earth was without form and void
And darkness was upon the face of the deep
And the Spirit of God
Moved upon the face of the waters
                                          Genesis 1:2 


Was earth ever without form?
Clay-coloured earthly angel of might
Rising from the blue
Between field and violet
Blue wavelengths                                                       
Birdwoman, fish figure
Gowned in azure--
Head back, arms spread--Hallelujah
High-priest breastplate born
And the earth was without form

Splashing, piercing light
But all is not lyric
We are burdened with the Bible
An excuse for dangerous men
To call me angel—sow what they reap
Dare I  try on robes of snakeskin
Take to the sea
Full measure replete
Darkness upon the face of the deep

But all is not parable
Nor a firmament of good and evil
Mother Earth returns
Blows wind into her sail--
Tern, puffin, thick-billed
Murre, winter-phase guillemot--
A wet bird beats in your chest
Seahorse meets air
Wing-tipped pen nib, paint pot
The Spirit of God

Black-billed mother trails ribbon in her beak
Builds nest on rugged shore
Stares me in the eye--
Birdwoman looks to her daughters                
Earth and air release her
Upon the face of the waters

Sheila Stewart
​
Sheila Stewart has two poetry collections, The Shape of a Throat (Signature Editions) and A Hat to Stop a Train, (Wolsak and Wynn), and a co-edited anthology of poetry and essays, The Art of Poetic Inquiry(Backalong Books). Her work has been published in Canada, Ireland, and the US and recognized by the gritLIT Contest, Pottersfield Portfolio Short Poem Contest, and Scarborough Arts Council Windows on Words. She teaches at the University of Toronto.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    COOKIES/PRIVACY

    This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.

    Opt Out of Cookies
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Join us: Facebook and Bluesky
    @ekphrasticreview.



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Lorette C. Luzajic [email protected] 

  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • The Ekphrastic Academy
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead