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Tuesday, May 6, 2025

no door will hold me back


Georgia O’Keeffe, A Piece of Wood I (1942), oil on canvas, 
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, gift of The Burnett Foundation

small brown circles 
stand before my eyes
letting my mind drift 
into haunting questions

I had toiled and pour
my heart out completely
reaching this moment
a hard-fought battle

I know deserved the 
praises and gifts
despite what other said
a person like me doesn’t 
deserve to be here

but I have shattered 
glass ceilings that had
been cracked by others
I now stand tall before
this door that will not
hold me back


- Written for dVerse Poetics: In other words  Poem inspired by "A Piece of Wood I" by Georgia O'Keefe.

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20 comments:

  1. Melissa LemayMay 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM

    Thought-provoking, like the painting: “letting my mind drift
    into haunting questions”

    I love your triumphant ending.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kim M. RussellMay 7, 2025 at 3:21 AM

    I found the image quite difficult to relate to, Maria, but you found your way into and gave us an emotional poem. I looked at it through your eyes and let my mind ‘drift into haunting questions’ too, after reading your piece, and especially love the defiant lines:
    ‘…I have shattered
    glass ceilings that had
    been cracked by others’.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arcadia MariaMay 7, 2025 at 8:13 AM

      Interestingly, this is the one piece that I was able to churn out a poem. Thank you for your kind words, Kim.

      Delete
  3. PetruMay 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM

    Bashing through personal glass ceilings is a mission of mine too. Thanks for putting it to words so well.

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  4. brudbergMay 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM

    I imagine to enter a tunnel, but I love the affarmative ending.

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  5. Nolcha FoxMay 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM

    That last stanza was glorious!

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  6. renMay 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM

    kudos to you for taking on the brown painting (i did not have the courage to even try)-- i'm glad you conquered it :)

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  7. kathy labrum mcvittieMay 8, 2025 at 9:13 AM

    Standing tall, you rise above the muddy spiral!

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  8. Gillena CoxMay 8, 2025 at 11:39 AM

    Gosh the mood of determination is inspiring

    Much♡love

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  9. MishMay 8, 2025 at 1:02 PM

    It is amazing to see what transpires upon the page from these paintings! Love how the image brought out a story of persistence. Keep breaking those glass ceilings!

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  10. Yvette M CalleiroMay 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM

    Great poem, Maria!

    Yvette M Calleiro :-)
    http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. paeansunpluggedMay 19, 2025 at 10:58 AM

    I just love how you built up to that smashing last stanza!

    ReplyDelete