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Iconic Image

Your Ophelia, my dear Millais,
will forever be the iconic image
of that tragic lady, that waif
of love's neglect. Her mental
garden fallen into desolation
by Hamlet's indifference
and her father's death, she
lies, caressed by river weeds
and stagnant water; captured
in a Pre-Raphaelite world
of vivid hue and rich imagination,
her young beauty somehow more alive
than if she'd heeded her lover's
admonition and hastened to a nunnery.

Author notes

Inspired by John Everett Millais's Ophelia, which can be found in the Pre-Raphaelite Art section of:

http://www.artmagick.com/pictures/

A contest entry

Please tell me what you think

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    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
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Comments

1 - 6 of 6
  • ecrivain01
    November 16
    ?
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    Very nice ...

    and excellently wrought poem. I'm not the biggest fan of free verse, but this is exceptionally good in my opinion.

    • ecrivain01
      November 16
      ?
      Edit | Reply

      LOL ...

      I'm usually not very tactful and people hate to have me comment on their poems.


  • Night Hope gold member
    October 30

    Edit | Reply
    Millais' model, Lizzie Siddal, only caught a very bad cold when the lamps meant to keep the water warm went out and the artist was concentrating so intensely that he didn't notice. I've always preferred the Waterhouse version of Ophelia lying in the meadow (he did 3 different poses with different facial features, as well). Ophelia was a figure of pathos, for sure. I especially liked your line, "Her mental/garden fallen into desolation", as I have long maintained that love is like a flower that requires nurturing in order to grow...water, warmth, soil, and a caring hand. This is a wonderful response to your chosen prompt, Bill. Thank you for entering my contest, my Friend. Good luck, Scribe.



    Here's the link to the Waterhouse version I like so well:


    http://www.johnwaterhouse.com/paintings/images/waterhouse_ophelia_01.jpg






  • celticwarrior
    October 30

    Edit | Reply
    Beautifully executed, gentle sir. i especially liked "her young beauty somehow more alive than if she heeded her lover's admonition and hastened to a nunnery."

    Mac


  • Mairi bheag gold member
    October 30
    Edit | Reply
    He almost killed his model, y'know (or was that Rosetti?)

  • Judith Chandler
    October 29

    Edit | Reply
    You brought that painting vividly to mind and I didn't have to look it up. I like the last three lines. "Get thee to a nunnery," such bad advice. Hamlet knew how to hurt a girl.

    Enjoyed your write.

1 - 6 of 6