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An Ekphrastic Sonnet

By D. J. ReddallPublished 7 days ago 1 min read
Caravaggio, "David With The Head Of Goliath," 1610

Some grim foes seem colossal, gigantic

We dwindle into insignificance

Faced with them, few can remain romantic

Against such monsters, hope has little chance

https://jpegfoto.ru/crush-little-man

And yet, in a titan’s inky shadow

Some eyes have dark enough to see a light

Sufficient to allow their hearts to slow

Enough to read the details of the fight

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/252483122836858296/

Afresh, and find within their nuances

Not paralysis, but a spur to act

With sharp precision, and faith in chances

That are quite real, and not merely abstract

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-2847504/PICTURED-Editor-selections-Middle-East.html

Some means of triumph are not found, but made

When things seem darkest, come to your own aid

Ekphrastic

About the Creator

D. J. Reddall

I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.

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Reader insights

Nice work

Very well written. Keep up the good work!

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Comments (10)

  • Gabriela Trofin-Tatár4 days ago

    And rightly so, because only we can help ourselves if and when we are ready for it! "When things seem darkest, come to your own aid"

  • Shirley Belk6 days ago

    What could be better? The story of a shepherd boy's extreme faith in taking down a mocking bully combined with the artful Caravaggio's detailed emotions told in the faces of his painting. I would say it was your Ekphrastic Sonnet!

  • Another masterful sonnet! In the spirit of the poem Invictus. "Against such monsters, hope has little chance" -- true, but I would add the disclaimer, "when we act alone." US culture tends to elevate the ideal of the unlikely but valiant hero (a la Joseph Campell), standing alone against evil. But I believe that the real monsters throughout history have only been defeated through collaborative resistance -- the power of community united in purpose and determination. So ... my version might be "When things seem darkest, come together and rise up in mutual aid."

  • Hannah Moore6 days ago

    What a closing line.

  • Sasi Kala6 days ago

    evoking a sense of insignificance when faced with colossal foes. very nice poem!

  • Oooo, those last two lines, they were extremely powerful! Loved your poem so much

  • Paul Stewart6 days ago

    Love that painting - and your words are a great reminder about spirit and how we can overcome even those tough challenges, and besides...some of us won't have to fight a giant...even if they feel like that...Inspirational and a great companion to that painting, sir!

  • Rachel Deeming6 days ago

    Great message in those last two lines, D.J.. What a painting to choose too! I am particularly captivated by the expression on David's face. He looks almost ashamed of what he has done. I feel the stirrings of a microfiction...

  • CHRISTIAN P7 days ago

    Nice work

  • Your poem beautifully captures the struggle against seemingly tough challenges. It reminds me that even in the darkest times, there's a light within us. Thank you for this inspiring perspective.

D. J. ReddallWritten by D. J. Reddall

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