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Fjordscene Poetry

Poetry, writing and translations by K-M Skalkenæs

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I gave myself a challenge back in 2014: Write poems inspired by paintings made by selected painters. Which paintings it was and what they portrayed didn’t matter as long as they were meaningful to me – for whatever reason.
The first two painters chosen were J. M. W. Turner and Caspar David Friedrich, which are the ones you will find represented on these pages, but I hope to add more in the future.
Turner was chosen for his style which I have always admired; Friedrich for his style as well as subject matter which, although it depicted Germany, quite often (mountains excepted) reminded me a good deal of my home in Denmark.

As the poems are spontaneous reactions to the paintings, they tend to be short and emotional. Personal. And that’s the point exactly. Show how art evokes emotions, and try to convey what emotions certain paintings evoke in me. It is an experiment, and it has been an enlightening one.

You will find the poems accompanied by the painting which inspired them on these pages, so that you will have a chance to compare, and ponder what each one could possibly mean to you, if that is what you feel like – but if I were to advise you on the matter, I would encourage a museum trip to study them in real life, in order to get the full experience.

Now, by all means, immerse yourselves.
– K-M

Category: Poems Inspired by Paintings

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

1: Interior of King John’s Palace at Eltham.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

So much is lost, so much forgotten that once was cherished, once was loved. And yet some embers still remain seen by those who still remember.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

2: Tom Tower, Christ Church, Oxford.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

It overtakes the scene for eyes that aren’t used to see it and blends into the ambience for those who live beside it.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

3: Cathedral of Ewenny Glamorganshire.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

What was holy is profane, what profound is now in vain; times have changed and much is lost, some is gained but at a cost. Where we worshipped we shall swear, where we cried we’ll no more care; the memories […]

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

4: Abergavenny Bridge.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

Some days I envy the grazing cows. Just think how calm and how content they live without a thought or care? Accept the rain as it may come, enjoy the sun when it returns without a worry as to when […]

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

5: Saint Gotthard’s Pass.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

The darkness and the sunlight. The water in the heat. The steam that reach the skies. The mist that stays beneath. The world and all its cycles. The abyss at my feet. Nature and its miracles; simplicity beneath.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

6: Avalanche in Graubünden.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

It’s time for nature’s cleaning; a piece of slate now cleared. There’s nothing to be feared it’s just a page that’s turning.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

7: Bend of the Lune, with a view towards Hornby Castle.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

The feeling, on a summer’s day, to lay and watch the landscape, the mixing smells of flowers and hay – reality’s a great escape.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

8: The Outbreak of Vesuv.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

There’s beauty in disaster and love can thrive in fear. What once seemed out of order today is what’s remembered and too what has preserved whatever else was there.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

9: Melrose Abbey.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

A gentle desolation. Remains left up to fate. Light shines through empty windows and silence is the gate. Humility be learned in a place of former glory when you realize, in ruins, the place seems yet more holy.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

10: Kilgarren Castle, Pembrokeshire.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

To float along the river and fight with oars the tide it was a favourite pastime of mine – at least for a while. But looking up the banks and feel them tower over me has always made me feel […]

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

11: Odysseus Mocks Polyphem.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

Mock nature all you want; it’s not as if it cares. You will be mocked right back when you meddle in its affairs.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

12: Lake Coriskin.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

What cares it of our musings, the lake, as there it lies in the shadow of its mountain and rolls its round, moist eye?

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

13: The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons. October 16., 1834.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

Our little, human protests seem ever more obscure; but when Nature comes to protests even politicians care!

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

14: Rain, Steam and Speed. The Great Western Railway.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

Here comes progress! Here comes speed! Marvel as you see it pass – all the same, don’t be impressed; it has not been made to last.

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

15: The Bay of Uri.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

The slopes are lost in mist and all we see is now and here – the day will fade to dusk and youth will age, and leaves will wear… And yet it seems impossible that any part of Nature, any […]

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

16: A Yacht Nears the Coast.

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

The end of our journey is now within our sight. Exciting or boring, long or slight depends alone on vision – it’s in the eyes that see. Blame your boredom on no-one; you’re what you want to be!

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

1: Böhmische Landschaft

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

Out, blueing in the distance and paling to my view a range of tempting mountains and cool tree-shadows too – I wish that I could go there and hide from worldly view, I wish that I could go there just […]

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

2: Blick auf die Ostsee

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

My native ocean under skies that, nearly overcast now shows a timid spot of blue that grows while all the rest in sunrise is coated yellow, orange too. Out on the waves I know so well I see a ship […]

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

3: Abend am Ostseestrand

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

What an evening, what a sunset! Skies that shine above and brood below in deepest purple, pink and red that deepen the ships’ silhouettes – I’ve stood there too, there on that beach, admired that same, well-known sea, watched fire […]

  • Poems Inspired by Paintings
16Mar,2018

4: Seestück bei Mondschein

Posted By K-M Skalkenæs

Set sails, steer out and face the sea; my dream and too my memory – the darkened waters seen at night or at ethereal moonlight – alone out on the silent sea there lies my heart; there let it be.

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