Once in Spring
the ground blazed with wild, mustard flowers,
sharp, clean, an announcement of the season.
Wind-whipped feather-clouds swept across
the forget-me-not sky.
The breeze was spring’s laughter,
and she laughed back, her skirts swirling
like white gulls in the breeze.
She smiled at our son,
both haloed in the spring light
amidst the scent of wild mustard, the golden glow,
the reaching shadows went unnoticed.
A poem for my dVerse Ekphrastic prompt. This is one of the images I selected for the prompt. Feel free to join us!
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Oh… we both saw that shadow… it really feels like a memory of the good times before everything happened…
Yes, that shadow really stood out for me. I read later that she was his first wife and a favorite model. I think she was young when she died.
Oh! Such a stellar closing on this one, Merril! Gorgeous, gorgeous work done. Thank you for the lovely prompt 💝💝
Thank you so much, Sanaa! I rewrote the ending several times. 😊 And you’re welcome.
a painterly poem so prettily wrought right up to the final menacing line
Thank you very much. I believe she died young.
oh that does put an even more poignant cast on the shadow
It does. I didn’t know when I started writing it, but I imagined it from the beginning as a memory.
Perfection, Merril!
Aww–thank you! 💙
🧡
I LOVE this! The poem felt just like March–and then there were those unnoticed shadows. We don’t see them until the warm March wind turns chill with no warning.
Thanks so much, Liz! That shadow seemed so definite.
You’re welcome, Merril! The shadow took me by surprise–but of course it was right.
Thank you very much, Liz. 💙
You’re welcome, Merril.
oh my that last line. the shadows are chilling us all.
Thank you so much. You are right–there seem to be shadows everywhere right now.
How joyful this reads: The breeze was spring’s laughter, and the wild mustard flowers. The shadow didn’t bother me as the overall frame was a spring light.
Thank you very much, Grace. I imagined it as a memory from a happier time.
OMG. Luv the lightness and joy captured.
Much love…
Thank you so much, Gillena! 💙
So full of hope and yet something dreadful is afoot… A bit like the days we live in presently.
Thank you–yes. . .unfortunately, that is so true.
This is deftly done and your diction is sublime. The shadow of her death there in the glory of her life was poignant.
Thank you so much!
“Forget-me-not sky” a beautiful image reached my inner eye.
“the reaching shadows went unnoticed” send a shiver up my spine.
Best, I think, that we notice the sky and don’t think about the shadows; otherwise, life would be too sad.
Beautifully done, Merril.
Thank you very much, Pam!
Sometimes we can’t ignore the shadows.
Unfortunately, no we can’t.
A lovely & poignant illustrative poetic for your prompt. There is a lot happening between the lines. Many of us shine with kind of prompt; thanks.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Glenn.
Wonderful, Merril!!!!
Thank you very much, Jill!
“the reaching shadows went unnoticed.”
Thank you?
Oh, Merril, I love, love this poem! I also saw the Mother’s shadow, the boy spared. Thus my poem. Thanks again …..
Thank you very much for your enthusiastic comment, Helen!
I almost chose this painting, Merril, but the emphasis on lightplay overshadowed the windy-ness for me. I’m loving your take. And thanks for the Meisterprompt!
Thanks so much, Ron.!
There is definitely an ominousness to the shadow. And above it, you’ve captured the light beautifully. (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe.
I’m not a visual artist, but I’ve become very observant of the light–and shadows.
Monet was a master at their use.
Yes, definitely.
I love seeing image prompts through a woman’s eyes. Like yours Merril. So much easily overlooked, gets noticed, beautiful! Wonderful writing
I’m sure all women are different, but thank you for the lovely comment, Rob! 💙
I love your poem Merril. The interaction with the March wind is so real I could feel the wind as you wrote!
Wow! Thank you very much, Dwight!
You are very welcome!
Wonderful
Thank you.
A beautiful verse promising the lightness of summer, in a twirl and dance of words…so nice..!
Thank you very much, Ain!
I didn’t manage to get the rest of my comment in and decided to send the comment quick…added PS
😊
PS…the reaching shadows, that went unnoticed…has there ever been an ending to a poem quite like that…
Oh, that’s so very kind, Ain. Thank you for adding the PS. 💙
Such a beautiful ekphrastic about what must have been such happy times! But shadows do follow us. Love it. 💙
Thank you so much! Yes, shadows do follow us.
You are welcome.
😊
Chilling. I hadn’t noticed the shadow until you drew my attention to it.
Thank you so much, Jane. For some reason, that shadow stood out to me.
I can see why!
😔
That last line is so powerful
Thank you so much, Derrick. I struggled with getting the ending, so I’m pleased it worked.
So beautiful Merril,
Thank you, Rene.
Thank you!
Ah the last line..! A lovely poem ends on a dark note,I wonder and wonder at the nature of those shadows 🧐
Thank you!
There are a lot of shadows in the world now; I think there may have been a lot for both the Monets, too.
So well painted with words, Merril! I smiled at ‘the forget-me-not sky’ then felt a chill when reading the closing lines. Reminded me of Blake’s ‘The Echoing Green’
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Ingrid! 😊
That shadow sounds foreboding. Such beautiful description.
Thank you very much!
If the shadows can be ignored, this is quite refreshing.
Thank you. It’s hard to ignore them.
A great write, Merril! Yes, it is sinister the way the reaching shadows went unnoticed!
Thanks so much, Resa!
A pretty poem, check this out too
https://odhiambodennis.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/i-shall-come/
Thank you.