Poetry –
but what is poetry anyway?
More than one rickety answer
has tumbled since that question first was raised.
But I just keep on not knowing, and I cling to that
like a redemptive handrail.
~ Wisława Szymborska
(Some People Like Poetry)
not knowing
I love the contrast between the dark interior and bright exterior in this painting. A fine composition!
I love your observation, Eliza! I love the connection apparent between the two people, even though they are working on separate tasks in separate spaces.
I didn’t notice the man in the painting until I read your response to Eliza’s comment. The painting is very rich with details. I’m trying to figure out what the woman was thinking. Did she wish that she was outside? In some ways, it looks like she was just doing a routine task and her mind was elsewhere.
It does look like the woman’s mind was elsewhere. Maybe because I’m a dreamer she looks content to me. I’d like to think she was looking at her husband fondly, knowing they were both working towards the same goal, each in their own way doing what was necessary to keep the family fed.
As this woman rhythmically churns the butter, her thoughts drift – you have to wonder what she is thinking about as her hands do all the work and she appears to be a million miles away.
Even though this is happening in another time we can relate to it because our thoughts drift, too, when doing our chores, though the chores people need to do have changed so much over time.
Yes, because some jobs are mindless … dusting, weeding … with no thought process involved. My grandmother used to talk about helping her mother by churning butter. A farmer/farmer’s wife never have much free time, so they recruit their kids (free labor) whenever possible.
I often find myself meditating when I’m doing ‘mindless’ tasks. Other times I take a stroll down memory lane. My grandmother told me she loved washing dishes because her mother never allowed her to do them when she was a child.
It’s easy to let your mind wander sometimes and the rhythmic churning motion might put someone to sleep! That’s interesting – I was never the dish washer but I was the dish dryer as my mom said she could wash them more quickly than me and I wanted to wear Playtex gloves due to the hot water.
Poetry in motion! Busy hands, busy thoughts. Still, it’s nice imagining what the woman is thinking about!
Thank you for seeing the connection, Debbie, poetry and everyday living! There are so many possible answers to both.