In response to Lizzy's beautiful challenge lines...


'Potato Eaters'

Stuck in a paused second of a still life-
Engraved in my psyche for a whole life-
Are the 'Potato Eaters' of 'Van Gogh'!
Dark and somber, in dull muted colours,
Callused hands and chapped-up skins,
Worn-torn clothes and wrinkled faces,
Gross large hands, faces wrought with ages
of worry, winters of weary poverty,
Eyes telling a different story, each one
his own tale to parry, surviving on the
brink barely, making the two ends meet
scarcely, under a dark single lamp, sharing
baked potatoes hungrily, eagerly, wretchedly!
All this in a paused second of still life!
So much packed in one life, on the paper
Comes alive! Has disturbed me all my life!



Author: Zoya Zaidi
Aligarh (UP), India
Copyright©: Zoya Zaidi




Poetry by Zoya Zaidi
Read 955 times
Written on 2006-04-07 at 06:06

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Teala
Very interesting, ahhhh Van Gogh!! Nice!
2006-04-10


Veld Cooper
One of your best, dear Zoya, and very different!
2006-04-09


liz munro The PoetBay support member heart!
I love the direction you have taken with this.

WOW!

Liz.
2006-04-08


Mike
zoya..zoya..zoya..this is great..as ever!..lots of hugs..mike
2006-04-07


BlueyedSoul
Only you my sweet Zoya can transport me to the most beautiful mind art museum and make me feel as if I am seeing it for the first time....magnificant my dear as always!

~BlueyedSoul
2006-04-07


Inked.
Miss Zoya, I have to tell you that your poems are always, ALWAYS a pleasure to read, particularly out loud. The way the words twist and wind themselves into a beautiful rhythm...it's enchanting, honestly.

I can't wait until you publish your work and I can say I "knew you" before you were famous!
2006-04-07


Hasani
Ok I REALLY enjoyed this one Zoya... It's so vivid I felt as though I was there. Even now the images still linger. Fantastic.
2006-04-07


Alaina K. Johnson
Again, very interesting and unique. Anyway, I also really like this one and all the rest, but I've not got enough time to comment on all of them. Very descriptive and beautiful.
2006-04-07


Lourdes
You make the blind see !
2006-04-07


Kathy Lockhart
Zoya, your descriptive writing again brought to life the imagery of your subject matter. I must admit, when I first read this piece, I was not familiar with the painting. After reading this, I was so moved, I had to find a picture of the painting on the Internet. I was astounded by the accurate portrayal of this work of art in your poem. I had the "picture" of the picture before I ever saw it for myself! It is so good to read such talented work.
2006-04-07


GB
Something different from your lovely pen my dear Z .... but it's STILL all good . Won't elaborate , but think that THIS is rather good . Hope all is well .... G
2006-04-07


Jon Hanover
Beautiful. Myself I am still haunted by Salvador DalĂ­'s " Burning Giraffes " as my parents had a print of it when I was a child. My dog is named after DalĂ­ as well. Good write my dear.
2006-04-07