Man's Legacy

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dVerse Poetics 

Launch: light and truth of painting

Today for Poetics, I thought we might write from a selection of Rousseau’s artwork. Choose one of the paintings in this post and let it be your muse. Additionally, use the above epitaph as a launch point to describe where the painting takes you, the viewer.

Oops... I jumped into it after reading just the first sentence, neglecting to read "Choose one of the paintings in this post..." until I'd already written to this painting, The Equatorial Jungle.  

image

You do well to stay hidden.

Man comes.

Everything he touches,

everywhere his feet roam,

where his eyes wander,

he desires to

Conquer.

Dominate.

Crush.

©2026 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

Comments

  1. CaraJuly 28, 2026 at 3:52 PM

    Lisa, sadly true, modern society does treat our precious wild places as nothing more than commodities to be exploited. Sage advice to the creatures of the jungle! đŸ©µ

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dwight L. RothJuly 28, 2026 at 6:39 PM

    A great observation and word of wisdom! Your interpretation of the painting is spot on!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Melissa LemayJuly 28, 2026 at 8:02 PM

    You make quite the statement with your poem, Lisa. That’s alright that you chose a different painting than one featured. I appreciate you writing to the prompt!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim M. RussellJuly 28, 2026 at 11:58 PM

    One of my favourite paintings by Rousseau, and your poem is so true, Lisa. Man is the most dangerous creature on this planet.

    ReplyDelete
  5. judydykstrabrown.comJuly 29, 2026 at 6:06 AM

    Sadly, too. too true...

    ReplyDelete
  6. lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.comJuly 29, 2026 at 7:13 AM

    What a sad and yet true poem to write. A warning to the wildlife....those who are sympatico with nature must beware the wildest of animals, the human!

    ReplyDelete
  7. PaulaJuly 29, 2026 at 9:05 AM

    So true… well written

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mrityunjay DixitJuly 29, 2026 at 11:17 AM

    A sad truth.

    ReplyDelete
  9. shaun/tenzenmenJuly 30, 2026 at 1:34 AM

    It's no wonder they fight back at times..

    ReplyDelete
  10. pvcann.comAugust 3, 2026 at 8:25 AM

    Yes indeed, the anxious looks give it that feel and you have said it true.

    ReplyDelete

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