Painting On The Battle Field Poem by Hakeem Rahim

Painting On The Battle Field



“During the forties, Bearden began to exhibit his work seriously,
even while serving in the United States Army (1942-45) ”
-The Block

Crouching in razor wire strewn fox holes
Crawling on deep red earth, belly against blood, mud, mucus and fecal matter
Gatling gun shells and metal shrapnel
Metallic colors painted in vibrato and crescendo
Black smoke and soot and mist circle “Os” and rises
Armed with palates of crimson, burgundy, maroon
Canvases never stood a chance,
deftly and swiftly stroking and shifting,
maneuvering between silhouettes and shots
Disproportionate shapes and blocks
Color your reality
Patient, Meticulous
Looking over your left shoulder for affirmation…
And cover
You Cubist Soldier you
You Picasso player,
Disproportionate shapes color your reality:
Amputated limbs, disfigured faces.
Art imitating life
Life imitating art
Today’s a good day to die.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Close
Error Success