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Monday, May 02, 2011

Nouvelle 55: The Storm

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Metropolitan Museum of Art

HE:    “What do you mean, love: ‘Hold on to me, we’re going to fly!'?"

SHE:  “I mean that if we stay, my father will banish you.
I would rather sail up together into the storm of the sky
rushing toward us now, than live out hell on earth
   —without you. The old Duke wants to marry meeee-eeee-- ~ - ~ - ~!


*Nouvelle 55 (nouvelle cinquante-cinq - I love how it sounds in French, humor me) is a form of flash fiction, in exactly 55 words, based on a work of art.


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24 comments:

erin said...

yes, any day
every day
in the storm

i laugh a little at the meeeeeee:)

xo
erin

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

Perfect light-footed verse to go with this painting. I am not familiar with the painting or the artist. On seeing it, and before reading your verse, I wanted to know the story, because there is something unreal in how they are running. The angle of the feet touching the ground is something that I think we would only see for the back not the front foot in their stride. But you have resolved the mystery... the lovers are not in mid-stride, they're taking offfffffff ~~~~

Ruth said...

Erin, laugh you should. :-)

Ruth said...

Lorenzo, phew, I'm glad my favorite art historian wasn't offended by my freedoms.

Now whether the jazz/music aficionado in you enjoyed the Renaissance music is another perhaps unresolved mystery . . .

:-)

GailO said...

Love the music you chose to go with this...it had me tapping my foot if not flying:) How much fun this flash fiction is! I am enjoying how it has me delving deeper into the artwork...

Ruth said...

Oliag, thanks! We just watched "Black Swan" finally, and I think I'm still a bit feathered and macabre from that. :-)

I'm glad you like the music too!

The Solitary Walker said...

Nouvelle 55: The Storm (Part II)

HE: "OK, but just hold on a second, Kate! You don't mean that old Duke of Edinburgh, do you?"

SHE: "Yes, Will. But why?"

HE: "'Cos he's my grandpa, that's why! The old devil! He's already married to my grandma, Liz, the Queen of England! That would be bigamy in my book!"

SHE: "Holy ambrosia! I had no idea ...

Ruth said...

Robert!! There is a different, more specific term for the genre you just pulled off. It's called en quatrième vitesse 55 !

:D

Disturbing . . . but fun!

Margaret said...

LOL Love the Part II. Just fantastic, Ruth. Your creativity is boundless.

Rosaria Williams said...

So fun! How can it not be so? Love is that way, flying off together,leaving the familiar, the ropes of security.

PeterParis said...

Three nice things in one post: The painting by Cot, your poem and Ritchie Blackmore! Thanks!

ds said...

Wheeeeeeee~~~

Have seen this painting & stared long at its Peter Pannish quality. But it should be Petra, shouldn't it? Wonderful music, wonderful everything!

Ruth said...

Margaret, thanks, but I think I'm just all over the place. :-) I agree, Robert's lightning-flash fiction was great!

Ruth said...

Rosaria, fun and risky, eh?

Ruth said...

Peter, now you intrigue me because I think you know Ritchie Blackmore, previously with Deep Purple. I had not heard of Blackmore's Night until I found this song for the post. Candice Night is the singer.

Ruth said...

DS, my clever friend, I'm glad you paused before this painting too. If I remember right, it's in the same gallery room as Regnault's Salomé, another one that captivated me for a long, long gaze.

Pat said...

I love it! Maybe I wouldn't be afraid of storms if I could fly up into the sky with someone like that! ;)

Ruth said...

Pat, oh yes. ;-)

My friend Diane was just telling me about an episode of "Smallville" when Superman had to rescue Lana Lane (Lois's cousin) from the eye of a storm where she was floating around, safe, sort of. I suppose that could be an interesting spot for a rendezvous, no?

Amy @ Soul Dipper said...

Oh, what a painting. Wonder why it's not well known?? Amazing the story that 55 words can conjure. Enjoyed your commentors very much as well.

Friko said...

What fun!

The serious and thoughtful Ruth I know is having fun.

Susan said...

What a gorgeous painting! I didn't know it existed. Now, if I ever get a chance to see it in person, it will have a wonderful connection to you. Love the verse!

Jeanie said...

How perfect. A poem yes, but the start of a much larger story! Love the image you chose!

Stratoz said...

Nicely done! But clearly they should be told to keep their eyes on the sky if they plan to fly.

Ginnie Hart said...

You know me and storms, Sister. I can definitely relate to this one! :D