Ekphrastic Poetry: Line #48

by Molly Cranston 

I have written a series of poems inspired by some of my favourite pieces of art. 'Ekphrasis' means "a rhetorical device in which one medium of art tries to relate to another medium by defining and describing its essence and form" and I have entitled my collection 'Ekphrastic Poetry".
See, also, my poem 'From a Cafe Terrace at Night, inspired by a work by Vincent van Gogh.

Untitled Film Still #48 by Cindy Sherman, 1979

Line #48


Follow the line
of rusty paint that rushes through
the road
Until it doesn't any more.
Follow it whichever way
your knowless drivers
choose, so when a wearied
line no longer reaches its aisle beyond you,
you'll be at a place
You didn't think to go.
But somewhere fancied
by the collaboration of strangers
from their candy cars.
Where you now abide
is not a place you found yourself drawn to,
it's a place
not fated by your past befores,
it is isolated
from your whole life.
Only then newness be birthed.
From a womb of moody skies
and gingham skirts,
blisters on your feet
and milk blonde hair that
becomes you.