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

The Yellow Chair, by Iris Rosenberg

9/12/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Madame Cézanne in a Yellow Chair, by Paul Cézanne (France) 1888-1890

​The Yellow Chair
 
My husband calls me to it like a child. Come and sit.
No matter I am in the garden or mopping floors. Today, 
 
another in a year of days, I must settle on the hard tufting, 
shoulders back, hands folded, my toes scraping 
 
the wooden floor. And we begin. Wasps flit the windows, 
August bakes the air. His brush worries the canvas – 
 
so slowly. Thirty strokes in an hour. Nestled like an apple in 
a china bowl, I count them from my spot. Until the light is gone. 
 
Then at last we must stop. And there is the chair, its rough 
brocade forever at my elbow. My face always flat and dull — 
 
squinty eyes, teacup ear, harrow-parted hair. My long fingers 
that once pleasured him, a twisted jumble falling 
 
from my sleeves. His composition never changing more
than the tilt of my head, a deeper blue for shadows. 
 
My red dress. He asks for it each day. Though the heavy fabric 
stinks with sweat and others in my closet are more branché,
 
he cares only for its deep colour and soft drape. How it plays 
against the yellow chair.

Iris Rosenberg

Iris Rosenberg has worked in factories, nursery schools, rehab centers, newspaper offices, corporate bullpens and college classrooms. She has an MFA in Painting from Pratt, and writes both poetry and fiction. She was a long-time poetry reviewer for Library Journal. She lives in New York City and has studied with Mark Wunderlich, Patricia Marx, Hermine Meinhard and other writers.

1 Comment
Sandi Stromberg
9/13/2021 11:02:25 am

You have so beautifully captured the feelings I have every time I see a painting of Madame Cezanne! by her husband. Every line in this poem is weighted! Brava!

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