Woman Encircled by the Flight of a Bird by Neil Ellman

painting by Joan Miró

Woman Encircled by the Flight of a Bird

(painting by Joan Miró)

A little bird with its wings on fire by Neil Ellman

beating faster than a hummingbird’s

circles a woman afraid to move

hears the beating of her heart

and feels the shiver In her loins.   

She knows the secret meaning

of its courting flight       its twists

its swirls        the hovering fancy

of its desire

the urgency in its blood

to touch and be touched itself

for the sake of everlasting life.

A woman encircled by the flight

of a little bird with its wings on fire

is not the least deceived

by its cunning and deceit.

Neil Ellman is a poet from New Jersey.  He has published numerous poems, more than 1,000 of which are ekphrastic and written in response to works of modern art, in print and online journals, anthologies and chapbooks throughout the world.  He has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize and twice for Best of the Net.

Editors Note: This is an ekphrastic poem and based on a work of modern art. The title of this poem is that of the original image, Woman Encircled by the Flight of a Bird by Joan Miro- Image shown above.