For Poetry Thursday, the prompt is to imagine yourself in the place of a painting's model or artist. The Spanish painter Francisco Goya recorded war, long before war photographers existed. One of his most famous oil paintings depicting the horrors of war is El Tres de Mayo de 1808 en Madrid o Los fusilamientos en la montana del Principe Pio (The Third of May, 1808, or The Executions on Principe Pio Hill). Painted in 1814, the painting is permanently displayed at the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid.
Goya scrawled editorial comments at the bottom of some of his paintings. My poem in homage to his Desastres de la guerra paintings contains some of the comments he wrote, in Spanish:
I saw it (Yo lo vi)
the unimaginable horrors
inflicted on my countrymen
the murderous rage
in the eyes of French soldiers
the despair in the faces
of all those martyrs
who were lined up and shot
with reason or without it (con razon o sin ella)
anyone can understand
that war is madness
and there is no remedy (y no hay remedio)
so why is peace
so difficult to find
and keep
they don't know the way (no conocen el camino)
cruel misfortune (cruel lastima)
as more widows weep
and mothers are unhappy (madres infelices)
humanity grieves
one cannot look: (no se puede mirar)
truth dies. (murio la verdad)
Once again you have done a great job. I really enjoy what you have to say about art because you seem to be so into photography and current events. It puts a different spin on things.
Posted by: Chris | 08 April 2007 at 17:30
Tara.......that is painfully sad and brilliant. My goodness, you captured the essence of the painting. well done! Mervilleaux! (did I spell that right? :)
Posted by: awareness | 30 March 2007 at 23:31
It's a heart-rending poem. thank you for posting it.
xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 30 March 2007 at 19:32
Powerful poem to match a powerful painting. I love your passion for injustice. JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 30 March 2007 at 15:59
Very cool poem. I've actually seen that painting in person but I didn't know about (or remember) the editorial comments.
Posted by: ally bean | 30 March 2007 at 15:28
Very well done. I like this poem. The painting was actually one I contemplated writing about, luckily I didn't. Very strong piece of work!
Posted by: Beaman | 30 March 2007 at 13:59
A fantastic poem. Fitting to be reminded too that history is full of wars - humankind never seems to learn.
Posted by: chiefbiscuit | 30 March 2007 at 13:52
((((Tara))))
Beautifully done. Such frustrations that you have spoken.
Posted by: Brian | 30 March 2007 at 13:40
"why is peace
so difficult to find
and keep."
Eternal question with no answers. Will we ever have an answer? I like your poem which makes one think. This painting always evoked a feeling of anguish within me.
Posted by: gautami | 30 March 2007 at 10:28
Tara,
"anyone can understand
that war is madness
and there is no remedy"
Nothing compares to actully witnessing, first hand, the magnitude of huma emotion.
rel
Posted by: rel | 30 March 2007 at 10:14
Heartbreakingly relevent, and very powerful.
Posted by: patry | 30 March 2007 at 09:02
beautiful and poignant Tara! tres beau hommage. Muy fuerte y hermoso. Gracias.
Posted by: Catalina | 30 March 2007 at 08:28
i think Goya would be proud too. The lines:
'...humanity grieves
one cannot look:
truth dies'
is like a spiritual depth charge - this painting has always been one to refresh some kind of irritation. In truth it terrified me when i was younger. The poem is painfully beautiful. Glad i stopped by thanks to dana. i will be back as some Austrian man in leather once said!
Posted by: paul | 30 March 2007 at 08:27
I think Goya would be pleased at your poetic interpretation of his painting, Tara - well done! xo
Posted by: tinker | 30 March 2007 at 08:16
Wow. This is good. But sad.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 30 March 2007 at 07:04
This painting has always evoked such turmoil within me as it tugs at my heart and turns my stomach. I have always wondered what Goya felt as he was creating this piece, did he feel sorrow or a deep sense of recording history for later generations to view as a lesson...your poem is absolutely riveting, gripping and lovely. As always your words move me and stir my soul.
XO
Kristen
Posted by: Kristen Robinson | 30 March 2007 at 06:23
one cannot look. how that line describes so many evils...both inside and out..that are too much to bear.
really well done!
Posted by: wendy | 30 March 2007 at 05:57
It is sad that not much has changed in regards t human life and war since 1808. Well done.
Posted by: Jone | 30 March 2007 at 05:57
Ahh. yes! I remember Goya from Art classes. I always FELT his passion when looking at his painings! (wow..that was a typo , but I left it because , well , it seems apropo. ) Your poetry, is, as always...touching and profound!...BTW: I can understand why you have so much company ! ha ! April! Avril! Of course I LOVE April...!.....Uh.. I have had a wee bit of wine this evening...re: my blog. au 'revoir
Posted by: pam aries | 30 March 2007 at 05:29
I like the intertwining of your thoughts and Goya's - and the spanish lends its own music to the poem.
I lived in Madrid for about 3 years as a young woman - the Prado is magnificent! As is Goya.
Posted by: Kimberley McGill | 30 March 2007 at 04:59
Wonderful choice of painting and a great poem on an age old theme which sadly does not go away.
Posted by: Kamsin | 30 March 2007 at 02:04
So powerful, Tara... the painting alone but combined with your powerful words... it's a sad commentary just how timeless war and its madness is...
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 30 March 2007 at 01:49
Especially good with the comments of Goya side by side!
Posted by: pepek | 30 March 2007 at 01:13
Paris Parfait now in spanish :o)
Muy bien, los felicito.
Have a nice weekend
Posted by: mauricio planel | 30 March 2007 at 01:08
I love this Goya painting and given the current political climate the theme for your poem is particularly relevant
Posted by: bookbinds | 29 March 2007 at 23:10
Awesome! And you did it with one of my favourite paintings, too! The other one is Picasso's Guernica.
I did an off-prompt this week, maybe I'll go back and try the prompt proper with Guernica.
Your poem is fantastic.
Posted by: Rethabile | 29 March 2007 at 23:07
Loved the prompt because I'm seeing great art and learning some history. You did a wonderful job translating his thoughts with your own. We are still at war which makes your choice that much more powerful. "Humanity grieves."
Posted by: Tammy | 29 March 2007 at 22:56