Something strange is happening in the ether. This week’s dVerse Poetics prompt yet again seems to have a certain connection with the unravelling of my own family history. I must confess, it’s like removing layer after layer of a very large onion!
This week’s prompt is all things Italian. Luckily for me (since I haven’t visited Italy), we don’t need to be obvious in how we interpret this prompt. As a bit of background, my mum used to take me to Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery every time we went into town, and I loved it. I now know that this place holds very strong and extremely fond memories for her, which adds to the joy of my own memories of our visits, which I adored.
I hope you enjoy my small snippet from my childhood – and take a look at all the other offerings on dVerse as well!
– Gloria! –
I spent my childhood here, or so it seems
A small girl, grasping her mother’s hand
Gazing open-mouthed at the glories above
Light reflecting on oil,
Paintings as lustrous as if they were finished only yesterday
And the brushes still resting, waiting to be cleaned.
If only I could reach up and touch
I just knew that my fingertips would pull away slick –
Sticky with vermillion, regal blue and baby-blush rose
A tiny remnant of Madonna and Child
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Freya Writes... 
Really a very well thought out and written moment. Kudos. >KB
Thank you so much! 🙂
That was a sweet memory.. and those little stains of color would have been a treat… love how you described it.
Thank you, Bjorn, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Oh… that is beautifully written… filled with childish wonders and the memories. I loved it. 🙂
-HA
Thank you so much!
This is a lovely poem–you express your feelings so vividly and use the metaphor of the paintings in just a wonderfully fresh way. Thanks much. k.
Thank you. I have some wonderful memories… 🙂
Lovely piece Freya, we have all wondered what it would feel like to touch one of those ancient paintings.
Thank you! 🙂
nice…how cool it would have been to have that kind of exposure to art at sucha young age…we went to the ones in DC on occassion but….sticky with vermillion….i love that word…nice bit of your story…i like…
I was very lucky! We had very little money, but visiting the gallery was free 🙂 I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this.
I think as children (and even sometimes as adults) we yearned to TOUCH these paintings we knew we were not supposed to touch. Nicely penned.
Indeed – I know I was desperate to touch them, especially as everything looked so real – folds of material, skin, animals….
I like reading how real these paintings were for you – “Sticky with vermillion, regal blue and baby-blush rose”. These visits with your mum are memories to be cherished.
Indeed they are to be cherished. These paintings were like friends to me…
love how much you enjoyed the paintings even at that young age..must have been fascinating to go there with your mom…what a precious memory..
Both of my parents had art in their souls and they passed it on to me. Very precious memories.
What a lovely childhood memory ~ I too would be awed by those glorious paintings ~
Thank you, Heaven!
This is so delightful.
Thank you, Laurie.
Beautiful take. I can see those colors so vividly, feel them between my fingers…
Thank you, Gizmo, I’m glad it felt so real to you!
Love how you make the painting so much more than a visual experience, but tactile as well.
I was so desperate to touch them! 🙂
a wonderful memory. i can so feel it – when something grabs you, you just want to explore – with all your senses.
beautifully written.
Thank you, Miriam. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it.
Yes, perfect! That’s how vivid and powerful those paintings were for me too then when they dwarfed me and even now. Lucky us, to have mom’s who got art like others got milk. Sticky.
Lucky us indeed! 🙂 I’m glad my poem reached you!
I adore this! Wonderful memories, and sticky paint! Who doesn’t love sticky paint? Even the thought of those colors…mmmm!
Thank you, Shanyn – I’m glad you enjoyed it!