It Begins – NaPo 2025 day one

The first 2025 NaPo prompt was to write a poem that uses a new-to-me word from either the glossary of musical terms or glossary of art terminology. The new part for me is the use of the word impressionism  in music.

Impressionism was a term at first used mockingly to describe the work of Monet, et al. It was similarly used to describe vagueness, imprecision, and perceived excess of attention to colour in the early music of Debussy.

Hay Fever

One hundred eleven million greenbacks
for a line of fuzzy haystacks,
a sunset or morning sky and blue flowers
where nothing looks real. Art

by a mocked artist who wisely
adapted the moniker to that style
of bright, pure, unmixed colours.
Insults taken to the bank.

Impressionism.
Is it art?
Is it music?
What does it do, say, or mean?

Would Claude be proud now
if he knew how his art
drew a fortune
at auction.

 

Look both ways at music critics and all art.
Mind the gaps because one critic’s trash is another’s needle in a hundred-million-dollar haystack.

8 thoughts on “It Begins – NaPo 2025 day one”

  1. Always good to see you pop up in my Reader Bill. I always thought the use of the word Impressionism was rather pretentious. I understand it a little more now, but really, it still seems that it is often used as an excuse for “I’m not very good at doing that, but here is an interpretation that will suffice!” I have been known to be entirely wrong about things!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I recently finished a book titled “But is it Art?” It is interesting how, over many years, the philosophies about that question have evolved without a suitable answer. Thanks for the comment, Peter. I had to send my blog to the Repair Shop to have all the rust removed.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment