image by Bill Dickinson
Cloudmaster
“The clouds--the only birds who never sleep”.
--Victor Hugo
My grandfather was a brilliant artist, and clouds
were his specialty. He would paint them dark and
heavy with rain, drenched scarlet from a sunset,
puffy as cotton candy, with thick shoulders and
and massive muscles of mist, banging out
thunder and tongues of lightning, and hoary herds
of bison whose hooves flashed across the knees
of the sky.
He died in 1989, but he appears regularly in my
REM Theatre productions. I asked him once about
his passing: It was different from what I expected,
no companions, no hosannas--just me. I wandered
lonely as a cloud in a cloudless sky. I could hear
the wind, birdsong, and insect buzz, and I moved
like an empty shadow for what seemed an eon--
but one day I spotted a Way Station, and I heard
voices. I rushed toward them, hungry for
companionship.
Glenn Buttkus
Prosery
Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub
16 comments:
I love this, Glenn.
I am most smitten with these words: "with thick shoulders and and massive muscles of mist, banging out thunder and tongues of lightning, and hoary herds of bison whose hooves flashed across the knees of the sky."
Was your grandfather really an artist? I love how you've used the line in his dialogue, given in answer to the question.
So glad you posted today!
I often zone out to online videos of cloudpainters. It is a remarkably diverse and well-represented niche, and I find it soothing. :-)
Loved this piece for my own reasons, lol. Thanks.
Yes my grandfather was actually a fantastic artist, and clouds were his specialty. They called him Earl "Sky" Carpenter. I have several of his paintings in my home, one painted for me as a book cover for BLACKTHORNE.
His paintings sound fabulous - love the physical attributes you give to his clouds.
How wonderful to be so blessed with an artist in the family! And your piece shows just how much your fascination with clouds envelopes you as well. Another artist - a writer - as your magnificent words and images paint - I'm sure your grandfather would be proud. Lush and rich imagery - very sensual and affecting - makes me want to go outside and look up, day dream.
Glenn, I'm not sure what I'm more enthralled with, your grandfather in his life painting the sky or your communing with him in the afterlife. The clouds have always felt like familiars to me. Beautiful prosery. Would like to see some of grandfather's paintings.
Your poem conveys the love and respect you hold for your grandfather.
Gorgeous description of the process of your grandfather's work. It is the process that often goes unseen and appreciated. My grandmother was an artist as well. I have a few of her landscape oil paintings but my favourites are the last two she painted for me at the age of 90, her vision fading to blindness.
That was cool. And what a difference and how fitting for your grandfather, the addition of 'in a cloudless sky' to our assigned line.
Lovely prosery, Glenn. The painting imagery is so vivid. I enjoyed this reminiscent reverie.
Glen, I really enjoyed your prosery. I have always been fascinated with clouds. It is in those REM moments we are able to commune with our loved ones, somewhere beyond the clouds.
This is such a heartwarming reminiscence of your grandfather.
This is such an incredible memory of your grandfather - thank you for sharing it, Glenn - and I agree with Lillian's comment up above - that description is amazing.
-David [ben Alexander]
Wonderful imagery!
"REM Theatre productions." - great.
And, very moving conversation in dream.
This is a beautiful, moving tribute to your grandfather.
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