Four Women- After Paintings by Alex Colville, by Jean L. Kreiling

Cyclist and Crow, by Alex Colville (Canada) 1981

​Cyclist and Crow 
  
She seems relaxed.  She pedals her Peugeot 
with sneakered ease—but stares across the field 
to watch the bird outpacing her.  Although 
she seems relaxed, she pedals her Peugeot 
not quite as effortlessly as the crow 
appears to glide; she’s earthbound, though two-wheeled. 
She seems relaxed—she pedals her Peugeot 
with sneakered ease—but stares across the field. 
 

Swimming Race, by Alex Colville (Canada) 1958

Swimming Race  
 
I know I’ll win.  I hit the water first 
and made a splash—but did I jump the gun,  
undoing the triumph for which I thirst?  
Can I still win? I hit the water first,  
my arms and legs extended in a burst  
of power—but false starts can’t be undone.  
I may not win.  I hit the water first  
and made a splash, but did I jump the gun?  

Woman Carrying Canoe, by Alex Colville (Canada) 1972

​Woman Carrying Canoe 
 
The image isn’t lewd; it doesn’t bare 
her breasts or bottom.  But it bothers me 
that we don’t see her head—eyes, mouth, and hair. 
The image isn’t lewd, it doesn’t bare 
what should be private, but we don’t see where 
her thoughts unfold—just limbs flexed forcefully. 
The image isn’t lewd—it doesn’t bare 
her breasts or bottom—but it bothers me. 

May Day, by Alex Colville (Canada) 1970

May Day 
  
Uncounted miles from any place she knows, 
she slumps against her Beetle—stupid car 
she never should have bought.  In dirty clothes, 
uncounted miles from any place she knows, 
no phone, no food, she wonders why she chose 
to make this trip alone.  She’s gone too far: 
uncounted miles from any place she knows. 
She slumps against her Beetle.  Stupid car.  

Jean L. Kreiling 
 
Jean L. Kreiling is the author of three collections of poetry: Shared History (2022), Arts & Letters & Love (2018), and The Truth in Dissonance (2014).  Her work has been awarded the Rhina Espaillat Poetry Prize, the Frost Farm Prize, the Able Muse Write Prize, three New England Poetry Club prizes, and the Plymouth Poetry Contest prize, among other honours.  An Associate Poetry Editor for Able Muse: A Review of Poetry, Prose & Art,  she lives on the coast of Massachusetts.