Tuesday 22 March 2011

The Art of Death

The Art of Death

I paint in brilliant red;
Swift indiscriminate brushstrokes
Rend the canvas
Of my battlefields.

You hang me like some
Clumsy masterpiece.

Strip away the security
Of my shield
And see my stark imagery,
My epitaph
Of battles won
And lives forever lost.

I am Death
Cold and clinical.

Anna :o]

With thanks to Tess at Magpie Tales

27 comments:

Isabel Doyle said...

A great poem. I was also taken with the crimson wall.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks for your comment Isobel and also highlighting the crimson bit! Had meant to change that! Cheers!

Anna :o]

Berowne said...

Powerful writing...

Tess Kincaid said...

Fabulous imagery. Stellar write, Hyper.

Brother Ollie said...

Cool - I dig this one!

Jinksy said...

Stark imagery indeed - I loved the picture you painted of cold, clinical death...

Christine said...

Clumsy masterpiece, and I am death. Interesting imagery to objects we consider art at times.

Louise said...

Great writing, well done.

Anonymous said...

This was a brilliant piece. Since it is written in the first person, I was wondering who the speaker was throughout...then the payoff. Just a great job! Vb

Lyn said...

Mr. Death is indeed a bit chilly..I love the swathe of red..so suggestive..excellent!

Helen said...

Interesting .. your battlefields on canvas!!!

L.A Speedwing said...

Great imagery i must say too! Rend the canvas
Of my battlefields, what a line!

Lolamouse said...

Love it! Especially love the first person voice. Have you ever read "Death Interrupted"?

Templeton's fury said...

great imagery!

Other Mary said...

This is very good Anna. Thanks for reading mine.

Anonymous said...

aw! i love it, dear Anna :)

T F Carthick said...

Interesting - Telling the story from the sowrd's point of view

signed...bkm said...

Well done...that first stanza..very powerful indeed...bkm

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thank you for your very kind comments folks.

I have now figured out how to use email notification and in the future will be able to respond to all comments more personally - yet still acknowledge your kindness here.

Lolamouse: I haven't read 'Death Interupted' but shall place it on my next Amazon order!

Anna :o]

mel said...

so, so vivid.....really brilliantly done!

Glenn Buttkus said...

Powerful juxtapositioning, and
muscular moments that make us
all wince, weep, and clench,
more resolved to be inclined
toward love over murder,
over war, over power and
politics.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks for your kind comments Mel and Glenn and the inclusion on your blog too Glenn.

Anna :o]

Elaine said...

This is a really good write. such a lot said with an economy of words. Well done!

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks Elaine

I have just had a brief browse through your blog and your poetry is excellent!

Anna :o]

Friko said...

You are good, Anna, good. Know what I mean? No blog good, good.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thank you dear Friko, thank you!

Anna :o]

Margaret said...

Well, seems I have stumbled upon you. This is wonderful. I'm a follower! :)