Thing with Feathers - Bruce Art Collection

New Art in the Bruce Collection

Thing with Feathers

Norma Johnsen

Acrylic, 8" x 8", 2026

An Ekphrastic Poem is a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art. I wrote the following Ekphrastic poem about Thing with Two Feathers. I selected it from the show because I am attracted to blocks of color. And I recalled from the Adam's Family that Thing can be a character. I wrote the poem for a May 23, 2026 poetry reading where this painting was on display at the Oak Street Lofts Gallery, 72 Oak Street, Portland, Maine 04102. It a a fine time.

Thing with Feathers

by Bruce McMillan

Thing, is that you, in your crimson red dress, 

holding a bird with violet feathers?

Yet, wing flapping gives it a new color, 

Violent Violet. No tethers, 

your chin is getting in the way, tilting 

back, eh? Looking up. Yet you hold on tight, 

while Blue Man looks on. He finds it jilting, 

wondering where this is going? Will Thing 

release her violet violent bird?

Does this sunny yellow bright day beckon 

its release, its freedom. Does Blue Man see 

Violet's future? What does he reckon?

The answer, easy to see, will it fly?

Dear viewer, it's at the center. Look at 

Violent Violet straight in the eye 

for this bird will fly. Determined. Look.

Rhyming Scheme

A

B *

C

B *

D **

E

D **

F

G

H ***

I

H ***

J ****

K

J ****

L

Meter Scheme

8 beats / line