Ekphrasis

Ekphrasis [on photograph by Annie Leibovitz, New York. 3 a.m. Blues in C.]

Holding the photograph at arm's length
above the living room sofa
I envision living with it--
larger than life,
this classic vanitas, darker than life,
Keith Richards on the edge
of his hotel room bed

surrounnded by symbols of  impermanence
a skull on the dressing table
a skull scarf draped over the lamp
books with turned pages, telescope, and magnifying
glass, himself an instrument for bringing distant imaginings closer,

himself the sumptuous arrangement
of fruit and flowers
adorned in the silk wildness of zebra,
leather, and precious silver
showing signs of decay
his eyes seeds of transitory life
these 3 a.m. blues
I could live with forever.

Comments

[Peter]

What a wonderful poem. Thank you for it.

Thank YOU Peter.