Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Cloudskinner II


Cloudskinner II

My grandfather’s studio was in a garage;
gun-metal cold in winter,
tin roof simmering in summer;
a grandson’s paradise
thick with odors of fresh fruit and gun oil
blending with muslin starch
and stacks of musty magazines,
old leather boots, bright wool shirts,
a torn sheepskin jacket, sprigs of pine branches
dripping with sweet sap, bouquets of sage,
handfuls of wild flowers in jelly jars,
rust on the points
of several varieties of barbed wire,
and summer dust lying deep gray
on the split pane of the solitary window.

He stood spread-legged
mixing oil paints on his palate,
then coaxing animal bristles
to create a cosmos of clouds;
dark and heavy with rain,
drenched scarlet from a sunset,
puffy as cotton candy with popcorn faces,
thick shoulders and rippling
muscles of mist—peaks, valleys,
pregnant with thunder,
tongues of lightning,
and hoary herds of caribou,
their heavy hooves flashing
across the knees of the sky,
all captured alive on canvas.

Glenn Buttkus

April 2010

Listed as #8 over on dVerse Poets-Meeting the Bar

Would you like to hear the author read this poem to you?

16 comments:

Rick Mobbs said...

Glenn,
Cloudskinner is great! Also all the others. When will you put a book together?

Is your grandfather's work still around? A grandson's paradise indeed!

Rick

Lynne Rees said...

Glen: 'Cloudskinner' - what a wonderful title. And I love the rich description, the very physical feel of the scene. Some lovely fresh imagery here too. Do you think the poem is finished though? It feels as if it stops in the middle to me. Perhaps my length limit? But I think it needs more than the scene and character. It needs a theme. But a great read still.

Lynne

Laurie Kolp said...

I love list poems... I felt as if I were there amongst the creative mess, inhaling the smell of paint, fresh fruit, gun oil, etc. Such a nice tribute to your grandfather.

Mystic_Mom said...

I want more! More! I love this...can there be a part II?

Marbles in My Pocket said...

Awesome write, Glenn! I could see and smell the "studio". Felt like I was looking over his shoulder watching him paint. Excellent!

http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/one-hell-of-a-ride-3/

Brian Miller said...

wow man...that was beautiful..esp the description of his creation in the last stanza...sounds like he gave you his eyes though for seeing you just use a different medium...i had an uncle like that that was a wood worker...

Unknown said...

Space, especially the space one works in, truly can become a signifier of what one is, what one stands for, and yes, what others remember and find attractive in you. The listing of the environment really paints a picture, so detailed it's obvious the importance your grandfather holds for you, outside of the obvious familial aspect. A really outstanding piece. really glad I had a chance to stop by and read it. Thanks

angelique said...

This is wonderful writing. You asked me to use all my senses. I like the way you used the room to characterize the man. The last stanza is very powerful.

stu mcp (hate & hope) said...

beautiful descriptions. You poured your memories out for us all to see. really great imagery and the words are put together so well- it feels so- I'm looking for the right word -'luscious' I guess- and by that there are so many little details that all build to paint the picture- you can pretty much smell the paint

Victoria said...

Wonderful write, Glenn. Your listing of the sensory memories of that garage just bring the poem to life and allow us to be right there with you. I would have loved to have known your grandfather. Perhaps you've just given me a spark of inspiration as I had a special grandfather, too.

Claudia said...

oh wow...so cool...esp. the process of creating...painting you describe here...seems you're not the only artist in the fam..smiles

poetjanstie said...

This is a special memory. Grandfathers (and grandmothers) have a special place in our memories and can so often be our solid, reliable, constant heroes. Lovely poem.

Dave King said...

I loved this in a dozen different ways, some technical, but most of all I think because it exactly catches the muck and muddle and the atmosphere of that studio. It's a wonderful poem.

zongrik said...

great descriptive phrases, and the way you read it brings much emotion to this

pedestal ivory goddess

hedgewitch said...

This is an excellent portrait, finely and surely detailed, and well written all through, but I have to admit to favoring the ending, esp the image of the brush bristles transformed by a gifted hand into something capable of making clouds. Like that layering you washed in.

Anonymous said...

What a vivid write detailing the work and space of your hero. This line in particular grabbed me: "across the knees of the sky"

~Shawna
rosemarymint.wordpress.com