Thank you, Patti, for giving such emotional velocity creating an artful gem of words that sword through the air of our ears like the twisted armored work of Picasso’s Guernica sketches. Applauding your homage to this era of Picasso’s artful weaponry of work*~~*
I was fortunate enough to see Picasso’s masterpiece in 1980 at the MOMA in NYC. A scalper sold me his ticket for $2.50 and, as my parents circled the surrounding streets in our car waiting for me, I practically ran through the floors of the museum. It was a retrospective filled with Picasso’s work. The Guernica piece was huge and I recall the somber mood in the room where it was displayed.
A very powerful poem. I think the truncated repetition used to convey her moving after the attack is very effective. The painting begs you to just look at for a long time. It’s very impactful and touching but shocking at the same time. I too saw it at the Sofia a few years ago.
The first time I saw Guernica was at MOMA in NYC. I struck me as if I had been punched in the stomach. Your poem effected me in the same way. Thank you for verbalizing the horror of the effects of war. Unfortunately, we’re seeing that horror played out everyday on the current news.
If only there a way to transport war mongers into this painting so that maybe they could feel the agony and finally understand - I think of the horse’s expression - then maybe so many wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. Thank you. The power of your poem punched a hole into cyber space, all the way through to my heart and mind.
Wow! I had chills while you were reading this. Nothing more horrible for a mother than her dead child and the brutality took place in that moment. Thanks, Patti for your brilliance and humanity.
Oh, Patti, the minute you said “all three,” my heart stopped. I’m a forever follower of yours, I’m 63, and I was adopted in 1960. Finally found my birth family 5 years ago, but my birth mom had passed two months earlier. She had looked for me, too. Two months. If only. I had a great life. But I look, feel, and act like her according to her entire family.
When I first listened to your reading of this poem, I was struck silent, literally no words. Somehow I found myself transported to a place alongside that mother, feeling the raw shock, horror, grief, fear and pain of that moment in time . . . unimaginable. A perfect illustration of the power of language and art.
In my career as elementary art instructor i used Guernica as an example of how abstract art functions as being filled with emotion capable of more expression and power and compared it to the students preferred style of realism...i think they got it.
I also spent many hours siting in front of Guernica at MOMA. I was so struck by the painting that I had to read the historical reference for the work. I knew that Picasso swore that Guernica would never return to Spain as long as Franco was alive. I was sad when Picasso died before he could see Guernica’s return to Spain. And I rejoiced when it was sent to Casón del Buen Retiro Museum. The painting is powerful imagery. Your reading of your poem is just as powerful. Thank you, Patti
Thank you, Patti, for giving such emotional velocity creating an artful gem of words that sword through the air of our ears like the twisted armored work of Picasso’s Guernica sketches. Applauding your homage to this era of Picasso’s artful weaponry of work*~~*
Powerful
I was fortunate enough to see Picasso’s masterpiece in 1980 at the MOMA in NYC. A scalper sold me his ticket for $2.50 and, as my parents circled the surrounding streets in our car waiting for me, I practically ran through the floors of the museum. It was a retrospective filled with Picasso’s work. The Guernica piece was huge and I recall the somber mood in the room where it was displayed.
Picasso would have appreciated your poignant poem just as we do. Thank you for this post, Patti.
wow
A very powerful poem. I think the truncated repetition used to convey her moving after the attack is very effective. The painting begs you to just look at for a long time. It’s very impactful and touching but shocking at the same time. I too saw it at the Sofia a few years ago.
The first time I saw Guernica was at MOMA in NYC. I struck me as if I had been punched in the stomach. Your poem effected me in the same way. Thank you for verbalizing the horror of the effects of war. Unfortunately, we’re seeing that horror played out everyday on the current news.
As beautiful and agonizing as the painting itself. Such an impassioned reading. I'm in awe. Thank you.
The power of words and painting. Thank you Patti.
If only there a way to transport war mongers into this painting so that maybe they could feel the agony and finally understand - I think of the horse’s expression - then maybe so many wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. Thank you. The power of your poem punched a hole into cyber space, all the way through to my heart and mind.
Wow! I had chills while you were reading this. Nothing more horrible for a mother than her dead child and the brutality took place in that moment. Thanks, Patti for your brilliance and humanity.
Oh, Patti, the minute you said “all three,” my heart stopped. I’m a forever follower of yours, I’m 63, and I was adopted in 1960. Finally found my birth family 5 years ago, but my birth mom had passed two months earlier. She had looked for me, too. Two months. If only. I had a great life. But I look, feel, and act like her according to her entire family.
When I first listened to your reading of this poem, I was struck silent, literally no words. Somehow I found myself transported to a place alongside that mother, feeling the raw shock, horror, grief, fear and pain of that moment in time . . . unimaginable. A perfect illustration of the power of language and art.
Just wanna say how much I loved this poem ... and listening to it read by you.
In my career as elementary art instructor i used Guernica as an example of how abstract art functions as being filled with emotion capable of more expression and power and compared it to the students preferred style of realism...i think they got it.
Powerfully read, thank you dear Patti 💜🖤
I also spent many hours siting in front of Guernica at MOMA. I was so struck by the painting that I had to read the historical reference for the work. I knew that Picasso swore that Guernica would never return to Spain as long as Franco was alive. I was sad when Picasso died before he could see Guernica’s return to Spain. And I rejoiced when it was sent to Casón del Buen Retiro Museum. The painting is powerful imagery. Your reading of your poem is just as powerful. Thank you, Patti