Portraits of Emerald Mountain Sunsets

Portraits of Emerald Mountain Sunsets

One day I sat at my desk,

Painting art, picturesque!

A beautiful Emerald Mountain

Was home to the Sunset Fountain.

The pretty flowers liked to dance and sway

While they were watered by the Fountain’s spray.

It was as if the sun bowed its head

In admiration that seemed to spread—

To the river, the birds, the rest of the scene—

Over everything in-between.

Then the light faded as the day became late, 

Letting the serene night sky dominate.

After dark, it seemed that the moonlight

Shone on the river—a delightful sight.

Everything was so peaceful and quiet,

But during the day it was quite a riot.

The wolves hunted; the birds flew in the breeze,

Each creature had been painted with expertise.

The day didn’t last long,

And soon the sun moved along.

The sun peaked out from the mountain,

Illuminating that silver fountain.

From this depiction of God’s glory;

In other words, an allegory.

All in one gorgeous illustration,

Which made it a lovely decoration.

In the art left hanging there on the wall,

That painting was hidden and forgotten by all.

National Fine Arts:

With a blank canvas and some unused paint,

The artist was now ready to initiate.

The image went from her mind to the canvas.

It was a delightful scene from her home in Kansas.

As she worked, she started to reminisce.

The finished piece looked like this:

Atop the beautiful Emerald Mountain

Sat the shiny silver Sunset Fountain.

The pretty flowers liked to dance and sway

While they were watered by the Fountain’s spray.

The sun bowed its brilliant head to it all,

Illuminating the shimmering waterfall.

If you look closer, then you will see

That each tiny creature was painted with expertise.

The valley and forest on both sides

Showed how well the Lord provides.

Then the artist added a final touch:

A note saying, “God loves you very much.

This is a depiction of God’s glory.

In other words, an allegory.”

The artist showed everyone her piece

And then gave it to her eldest niece.

However, the niece was about to move

And it was the one thing she forgot to remove.

So day after day the painting stayed

And after some time the colors fade.

Forever it was left hanging there on the wall,

That painting was hidden and forgotten by all.

This was a piece that I entered in the 2023 AG Fine Arts Festival. I can't remember if this one advanced or not. I do remember that in an early early early draft of this poem it was a short funny one about potatoes coming alive at sunset.

I think I made the right choice in changing it....