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

Little Boy Kissing the Snowman, by Helen Bournas-Ney

1/9/2023

1 Comment

 
Picture
Little Boy Kissing the Snowman, photography by Wayne Kneussle (USA) c. 2001

Little Boy Kissing the Snowman

I found a photo of you yesterday, you and a snowman
of companionable size, a snowman round and dandy:
blackberry eyes to give the twinkle, orange gumdrop set
to make a nose, and chocolate licorice in one long strand
shaped into a smile, broad, uncomplicated.

In this picture your round cheek is gently pressed against      
the clean field of the snowman’s temporary whiteness,
lips pursed, small and devout.

It might have been a January day, the snow looked newly fallen.
Everywhere was white. No sky, no ground in this old photo.
Just you, a winter’s afternoon unbroken, and a man made simply
                                                                                      out of snow.

Helen Bournas-Ney

Helen Bournas-Ney was born in the island of Ikaria, Greece, and grew up in NYC. She wrote poetry years ago, and completed a study of the Greek poet Seferis and Rimbaud. She then spent time raising a family and running a Learning Center. Recently (and happily!) she has returned to writing poetry again. She loves ekphrastic poetry, mythological themes, and lately, exploring prose poetry. Her work has been published in The Ekphrastic Review, Plume Poetry, Ergon, One Sentence Poems, Mer Vox, and the anthology Plume Poetry 7. Her poetry was nominated for Best of the Net 2021.

1 Comment
Bethany Rohde
1/9/2023 12:55:53 am

I love this photo and poem. So much is said in the word, "uncomplicated" here. The simple innocence and joy of this moment in the speaker's history. A warm poem about a cold day.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    COOKIES/PRIVACY
    This site uses cookies to deliver your best navigation experience this time and next. Continuing here means you consent to cookies. Thank you.
    Join us on Facebook:
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    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 theekphrasticreview@gmail.com 

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