Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sindoor Sun

(Painting by Sunita Khedekar)

Veiled from the setting sindoor sun
by a charcoal roof
and shaded downcast eyes,
I still feel your tears on my face—

what are these thoughts I think
in the gray of a fading day?
Just to know, for my own sake,
I look from the window

as we used to do, to see
if the fishermen’s boats
still glistened in the
setting sindoor sun.

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For dVerse. Grace has us writing with color in mind, using artwork by Sunita Khedekar for inspiration. It's been such a long while since I've posted anything, but Sunita's work is so powerful I just had to give this a go. Click here for info. on sindoor. Please visit dVerse and write something you can share with us; at the very least, you owe it to yourself to check out Sunita's art. Incredible work!



50 comments:

  1. lots of emotion just under the surface in this...love the wordplay in sindoor sun..appreciate the link as well....the loss in this is real...how it steals the color away....

    its good to see you man...its been a while...

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    1. Thanks Brian. Yeah, it's been a little too long. I love what y'all have done with the place since I've been absent.

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  2. Oh, the sadness in this poem is truly palpable. I feel the emotion strongly.

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    1. Thanks Mary--there were so many paintings that had vibrant, joyful colors, and I was drawn to the dark one. Figures.

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  3. I love the closing image of this poem. Leaves you longing for more!

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  4. This is a lovely poem ....like one of those sad Indian wailing songs.

    "Where have you been my blue eyed son"
    Know this song ? :)
    Have missed your peaceful presence here !

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    1. Thanks Cress--I've missed being around. I go through dry spells like this every so often. Just one of those things.

      I DO know that song, "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall." Dylan!

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  5. You tell such a deep story in these few words...enjoyed very much. I couldn't resist using her art for a poem either...

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  6. The wistfulness conveyed by your words really matches the painting you chose.

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    1. Thanks Gabriella, I was really helped along by having that painting in front of me!

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  7. a wonderful take on the striking almost monochromatic feel to the artwork, a powerful use of the many shades of gray, punctuated by a bit of sunbreak; like this a lot; thanks.

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    1. Thanks Glenn--that painting really caught my eye, the contrast with the sun and boats and the surrounding gray spoke to me. I'm happy you liked it.

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  8. I'm so glad you chose this painting, Nico. It emphasizes the contrast between light and dark and between her colorful and sober thoughts. You did a great interpretation in your poem.

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    1. Thanks Victoria. I'm all about the contrasts--and the gray!

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  9. I missed this painting; combined with your words it is amazing!

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    1. Thanks Katy. Sunita's Gallery page acts a little funny--if you click it once you get a page of about 15 or so paintings; if you double-click it you get a page with some different paintings. I found it on that second page. I believe it's also on her Facebook page. It really caught my eye, and just in time too--I really needed some inspiration!

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  10. love the wordplay and the play on grey and color...shifting the focus on the boat... well done nico

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  11. the mood of this piece fits perfectly with the image. really lovely...

    glad to see you....

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    1. Thanks RMP--I'm happy you liked it. As I mentioned on your blog, I haven't been around much. You know how that is. Feeling better now, maybe I can post a little more regularly for a while. After all, next month is National Poetry Month!

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  12. Ah, once I read about sindoor, the poem made sense to me ... sad, nostalgic, palpable that feeling of loss.

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    1. Thanks Marina--sindoor is not a common word in this part of the world, so I thought it best to include a link. When I first saw the painting, the sun color and styling reminded me of a bindi. It just felt right to pay tribute to Sunita's Indian heritage by using an Indian word to describe the color.

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  13. This is such beautiful melancholy .. the contrast between charcoal and sindoor.. and the setting sun also could be that metaphor for fading love.

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  14. Nico,

    Welcome back! It was nice to once again read your words. You have crafted a poem that reflects the mood of the artwork.

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    1. Thanks Truedessa--it's good to be back. I'm happy you found my poem to be in keeping with the painting. I guess in a different mood, I may have interpreted it differently. Either way, it is a powerful, emotional painting!

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  15. A truly beautiful piece...and thanks for the link to information on sindoor!

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  16. The absence is quite felt in this beautifully written piece Nico. "I still feel your tears on my face" is so evocative. Thanks for the link to sindoor as well, I always like learning new things.

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    1. Thanks Jennifer--I want to learn something new every day. And I usually do, even if it's something that I'd really rather not know!

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  17. good dual meaning .. reading about sindoor was insightful - thanks

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  18. Ah you chose a beautiful sindoor sun...I love how your words blend in with this image - very well done.

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  19. I like your perspective of seeing the boats amid the gray of the fading day ~ Sindoor sun, I like this imagery ~ Good to see you Nico ~

    I see that my original comment didn't come through so I am commenting again ~

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    1. Thanks Grace, it's good to have you drop by. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  20. you connected the three things in here so well :)

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    1. Thanks Shaddie, I appreciate your kind comment.

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  21. It is good that he still remembers her of times together looking out the window. Nicely Nico! Thanks for dropping by!

    Hank

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    1. Thanks Hank--sometimes it's those smallest shared actions stay in the memory.

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  22. Pure poetry beautifully done to such a wonderful painting.

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  23. Wow, Nico. Wonderful response to a beautiful painting. I didn't see this one on my first visit...I need to go back. Also so glad to see you in my blogfeed again!

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    1. Thanks Heidi. The dark beauty of this painting just jumped out and grabbed me. I'm happy you liked my take on it!

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  24. your sindoor and charcoal are a great description of the image
    i like the boats glistening

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