Before the Blitz

(after the painting by Paul Klee, 1939)

Before the Blitz

up was up, down was down

we knew the time of day

by the blazing sun

the length of night

by the transit of the moon

across our dreams

green in innocence

we spoke in rhymes

and played a bagatelle

on currents in the air

a moment before

the sky fell in

when down turned up

and up turned down

as time stood still

around an incoherent sun.

- Neil Ellman 2013

The Mask with the Little Flag

(after the watercolor by Paul Klee)

Every flag in every hue

every stripe

heraldic coat of arms

crosses, crests and stars

perform a masquerade for patriots

and pierrots

soldiers marching off to war

to die behind their masks

with little flags on shallow graves

without their names.

- Neil Ellman 2013

New Angel

(after the painting by Paul Klee)

Neither a bird nor butterfly

at first unformed

what creature this

with demonic, incipient wings

that dares provoke

the world to fear

new-born, hallowed child

of night

fallen from the maker

of its maker’s mind

an angel first, transmogrified

a bat

would wrap its wings

around the sun

to suffocate the light.

- Neil Ellman 2013

Twice nominated for Best of the Net, Neil Ellman writes from New Jersey. Hundreds of his poems, many of which are ekphrastic and written in response to works of modern and contemporary art, appear in print and online journals, anthologies and chapbooks throughout the world. His first full-length collection, Parallels, consists of more than 200 of his previously published efforts.