by Nathan Moore
I find this image striking on many levels. The bright red of the figure in the foreground, the way the white figure in the background seems to glow, the reflected light on chrome — the colors and details are brilliant.
There’s something about these figures that fascinates me. Maybe it’s their anonymity, the way they blur into the background. Maybe I like the weird sense of playful sadness they radiate.
What do you see here? Do you think of games and competition? Your childhood? Faceless pawns participating in a system in which they have no control?
Leave reflections on the photo and other ideas in the comments section of this post, then leave links to your work next Thursday in the comments section of the Get Your Poem On post.
My Angel and My Devil by Thomas Hawk
(Note: If you include this photo in your post along with your poem, make sure you credit the artist.)
Nathan Moore is community director and a columnist for Read Write Poem. In his spare time, he plays with his children and with fire. Never at the same time. He blogs at Exhaust Fumes and French Fries.
It’s like a prisoner and his lawyer meeting at a table, and in the background, other conversations just the same.
Interesting choice.
Joseph Harker replied:
September 25th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I thought almost the same thing, but not prisoner and lawyer…
I like that, Barbara, that’s a great interpretation.
There is sadness and longing…two brothers who are divided by circumstance, one on each side of the Berlin wall…
Nathan replied:
September 25th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Cynthia, that’s really creative!
My first thought was Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots but why would the robots each be holding a very large balancing bar thing, like tightrope walkers use?
I think I will start there….
(My writing from images always makes me think I have an odd view of the world. Last time a person left me a comment like I was a thoughtless, self-obsessed bimbo… not in exactly those words… but wow…. and for now, we will see where balancing rock ‘em, sock ‘em robots takes my words…)
There in opposition, poised upon a plane of conflict and adversity the recycled dogmas of east and west, the ying and yang of bodies politic, squander their opportunities. Their constitutional character stamped “made in China,” awaiting their ultimate end, the land fill of greedy forgotten nations. Yep, that’s what I see!
Rallentanda replied:
September 26th, 2009 at 6:26 am
That’s very good Donald!
This image seems color-coordinated with this RWP site — red (read), white, & blue. That got me thinking about virtual online communities, typing on keyboards, and conduits of sound. Maybe I’ll write a poem called “Avatar.”
Even though I know that these are foosball players, I was struck by the waxen quality of the red – something soft, pliable, temporary.
Representatives from the two warring factions have finally met and now, for the benefit of flashing bulbs, bear the massive and mutual weight together, in pursuit of peace.
cool photo, Nathan!
I took a peek in the photostream–lots of good things. of course, you can’t really go wrong with a name like Hawk.
Nathan replied:
September 25th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I know! His work is great isn’t it?
A staredown. The white man has a cold heart. We don’t know about the red man’s heart. I feel tension.
this image makes me think of the perspective of our eyes and the mental perspective of each individual being and how there is no entirety that is ever in focus.
Nathan replied:
September 25th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Yes, that’s really good — we can comprehend a lot but there’s also much that remains outside of our comprehension.
This week’s poem in’subversive verse chamber rock’ style,clever term coined by Ms Barbara
Brilliant is primarily based on prompt 94 image.
‘The Whopper Tales’ Pt 2 ‘Bored stiff’
rallentanda replied:
September 25th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Any regular respondent to my poems who doesn’t wish to be characterised please send a message!
Therese Broderick replied:
September 26th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Thank you for asking permission, Rallentanda. That is a courteous gesture. Go ahead and lampoon me as you will — MFA pedant; soccer mom posing as a poet; lapsed whatever whatever; 50-ish lady who should air-brush her avatar; tweet-challenged. I give you permission!
Rallentanda replied:
September 26th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Thanks Therese.That’s a relief because Ive already finished the poem and you feature prominently.
I see lost hours in college bars. Nicely done, Nathan.
Nathan replied:
September 26th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Dave, I wondered when someone was going to mention bar time.
Rallentanda replied:
September 27th, 2009 at 2:16 am
You haven’t featured for a while
‘You have been missed
mine rose cheeked Romeo’
When we focus on our passion and place good will hazy in the distance we struggle because we can not see the true face of it.
I see someone struggling with an impossible load. Is the white guy going to help? Ignore? Be derisive?
I’m intrigued by the notion that the figure in the foreground can’t see the figure in the background too clearly. Hm.
Making a choice and crossing over to the red side…
I’m intrigued by the dark spot on the solar plexis of the vague white figure. The solar plexis chakra signifies psychic intuition or a sense of “knowing”. The fact that the spot is black instead of yellow might indicate the red figure – which is sharply focused – is attempting to “bleed” or suck the psychic energy from the white figure.
Yeah, I think I’ll go with this.
WOW ssuch a blurr….with so much happening or not happening….last call at the railroad bar with two strangers…Im all over the map with this one…hope something comes up from this great image.
For the first time yet in one of these prompts I am done early… waiting in breathless anticipation for the blog to give us the A-ok to post our links! Woo hoo!
I feel like we’re doing a projective test here (instead of a Rorschach). Reading the comments was surely fascinating. Can’t wait to read everyone’s interpretations–I mean, poems.
Living In The Eastern Woodlands. My poem is Puttin’ 0n the Jitz
Thank you for the prompt Nathan. I am on vacation and traveling Thursday. Posted 11:18 pm Wednesday.
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