An Ekphrastic Poem for WONDER

 

You know how much I love house plants and greenery of all kinds. I don't have a green thumb, and my plants don't always do well, but I am stubborn and don't give up easily. My office is full of plants. sometimes they get those really annoying fungus gnats, so I am continually in a battle of control. 

There was an outbreak the same week that my Poetry Sister Sara shared her photos of the art instillation "Wonder"at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery in DC, which was somewhat ironic to me. The part of the show by  by Jennifer Angus called "Midnight Garden" featured a huge exhibition of insects arranged in fantastic patterns and glued to the wall. I know, right? Bugs. But these are really amazing bugs.

Jennifer Angus' "Wonder" exhibit; made of insects

The entire wall space of the room is covered with insects displayed in elaborate patterns. The website of the Renwick Gallery states:

 "Yes, the insects are real, and no, she has not altered them in any way except to position their wings and legs. The species in this gallery are not endangered, but in fact are quite abundant, primarily in Malaysia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea, a corner of the world where Nature seems to play with greater freedom. The pink wash is derived from the cochineal insect living on cacti in Mexico, where it has long been prized as the best source of the color red."

 Isn't that AMAZING? And a little creepy. I couldn't help but put the two experiences together in my mind as I worked on this months' Poetry Sisters challenge: ekphrastic poems in any style or form, in response to the art at Renwick Gallery when Sara visited in May.

Artwork © Jennifer Angus, photographs © Sara Lewis Holmes 

WONDER

The bug

pinned to the wall

(arms splayed, wings

just so, legs akimbo)

is never the one

bothering you.

what bugs you

is the gnat

hovering

between you

and the screen.

   -Andromeda Jazmon

Can I get a witness?

Don't miss the other poems written for this month's challenge at the Poetry Sisters' blogs: 

Laura Purdie Salas - Laura's in the cheering section this month, as life took p residence over blogging.
Tricia Stohr-Hunt  - She can hear them breathing, and they're coming for us.
Sara Lewis Holmes - Tells the story of visiting the gallery, with more pictures and amazing poetry!
Kelly Fineman
Liz Garton Scanlon - opening drawers full of surprises
Tanita S. Davis - Uses words like "chitinous" perfectly poetically!!

And don't forget to stop by the Friday Poetry Roundup hosted by Tara at  A Teaching Life!