When I think of red, I think of Rothko.
One afternoon in a cottage above the Missouri River, I sat with a friend and blathered about poetry. She listened closely. She realized I was talking about words like a painter might talk about primary colors.
“Do you know Mark Rothko’s work?” she asked.
“Not really, ” I answered.
Friendly bikers could be heard below on the Katy Trail. A cool wind marched through the screened-in porch and brought cow smell and lilac. I got on Google and quickly became entranced by Rothko’s No. 15, Untitled.
Red and gold.
This introduction to Rothko spurred me to a flurry of inspiration that would culminate in a literary triptych (three sections of 15 poems). Rothko’s powerful choices of red, gold, yellow, are prominent in the resulting 45-poem swath.
For me, the painting cannot be separated from the poems. Rothko might concur, for he said, “A picture lives by companionship, expanding and quickening in the eyes of the sensitive observer.”
Sensitive and inspired, I slung a new layer of oil on top of Rothko’s canvas—romantic stories set in the natural and cultural landscape of my home in the Ozarks. Was the painting ultimately quickened by my activity? Maybe yes, maybe no. But I was surely quickened, as I came home to red.
6 | Rothko’s Reds
We are joined at the hipbones
like Rothko’s reds. Slight spaces
between like woman man skin
sticking, unsticking—blotchy fuzz
Rothko wrists into the painting.
No matter how you triangulate the canvas,
you see us. Naked pulsing red mists—
no boundaries on land,
pond, and autumn gold field.
Post by Dave Malone, author of Under the Sycamore.
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Buy a year of Every Day Poems— Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In February we’re exploring the theme Red.
- From the Poet: Blue of the Heaps of Beads - November 29, 2018
- “Tiny Machine,” by Dave Malone - October 30, 2015
- The Sacred Tree - August 28, 2012
L. L. Barkat says
Dave, I’ve been feeling a little uninspired with my poetry-writing lately. Last night I wrote a poem about how I feel bereft of images.
Maybe this is just what I need! To look into the brush strokes of a painting 🙂
Heather says
Ooohhh… I feel a tickle in my writing brain.
L. L. Barkat says
I did too, Heather. Now I have a Rothko red poem!! 🙂
Maureen Doallas says
I’ve been privileged to see much of Rothko’s work and have visited the Rothko Chapel in Houston. I also saw “Red” on Broadway, the play about Rothko’s Seagram’s commission. Love his work, especially his black-on-black paintings, which I’ve written about.
I also want to read this series of poems!
Dave Malone says
LL and Heather ~ glad I could inspire. 🙂 That’s really excellent, Maureen. I have just been in awe when I cruised the Chapel website. I like the black on blacks as well. Did they inspire poetry from you? Two small presses have shown interest, so we’ll see what happens! But you might not want to wait that long (I don’t!). But I’m willing to share my Rothko inspiration if you are. 🙂
L.L. Barkat says
Dave, maybe we need to feature some here or at Every Day Poems 🙂
Dave Malone says
Great idea!
Tania Runyan says
Beautiful. I love ekphrasis. Lines 6 and 7 are my favorites!
Dave Malone says
Thanks, Tania.