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

Still Life with Goat’s Skull, Bottle and Candle, by Colin Pink

11/3/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Goat’s Skull, Bottle and Candle, by Pablo Picasso (Spain). 1952.


Still Life with Goat’s Skull, Bottle and Candle 

Now the colour has gone out of everything
skull, bottle and candle emerge from the twilight
glints of a grisaille world where white burns
with an artificial incandescence like the glow
of roman candles. Imperious,

the bottle is quiet, mysterious,
its shadows concealing as much
as revealing – its candle a flower blooming light
that bursts like a flash-bulb of astonishment
that this is all that’s left.

There is agitation in the still life
and still life in the agitation – the goat’s
horns writhe as though animated by
Grünewald’s hell bristled brush.

The empty eye socket glares at us –
‘Who you looking at?’ it snaps;
as the skull bone flares its angry nostrils
and haphazard teeth snap shut
on our minds.

Colin Pink

This poem first appeared in Colin Pink's book, Acrobats of Sound (Poetry Salzburg, 2016).

​Colin Pink lives in London. He writes poetry and lectures on the history of art. His poems have appeared in literary magazines such as Poetry News, The SHOp, Poetry Ireland Review, South Bank Poetry, Poetry Salzburg Review and on-line at Ink Sweat and Tears. Acrobats of Sound, a collection of his poetry, from which this poem was taken, was published by Poetry Salzburg in 2016.
1 Comment
Alarie Tennille link
11/6/2018 03:45:44 pm

There's so much to like about this poem and how it responds to the Picasso, starting with that wonderful first line. I also love the word play in the repeat of "still life," the rhyme of imperious/mysterious, and that justifiably grouchy goat skull.

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
    ​

    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 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