Drowned in bliss

Colleen Milburn

Drowned in bliss

Happiness, to some, elation;
Is, to others, mere stagnation.
Days of passive somnolence,
At its wildest, indolence.
Hours of empty quietness,
No delight, and no distress.

Happiness to me is wine,
Effervescent, superfine.
Full of tang and fiery pleasure,
Far too hot to leave me leisure
For a single thought beyond it.
Drunk! Forgetful! This the bond: it
Means to give one’s soul to gain
Life’s quintessence. Even pain
Pricks to livelier living, then
Wakes the nerves to laugh again,
Rapture’s self is three parts sorrow.
Although we must die to-morrow,
Losing every thought but this;
Torn, triumphant, drowned in bliss.

Happiness: We rarely feel it.
I would buy it, beg it, steal it,
Pay in coins of dripping blood
For this one transcendent good.

- ‘Happiness’ by Amy Lowell

Image taken with 2MP Motorazr V9 mobile phone camera. Edited in Photoshop CS4 and GIMP.

Bendigo 10 April 2009

Group Feature:
‘Exceptional Ekphrasis’ – April 2009

Drowned in bliss belongs to the following groups:

Complex Simplicity of Art, ! 100% !, "Exceptional Ekphrasis", All In, "Editing", All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Beige is death!, Bits and Pieces , Buyers R Us..., Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Digital Brushstrokes (Max 3 per Day), Graphic Editing 101, in-between, Live, Love, Dream: , Mixed Media, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Outsiders, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop, Prize Challenges!!, Shameless Self-Promotion, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The Graphic Room-Graphic and Digital Art, The Grunge Art Gallery, THE SISTERHOOD and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Drowned in bliss by Colleen Milburn
  • Mizz1

    Mizz1

    this is gorgeous Colleen….

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thank you, dear girl :)))

  • Vanessa Anderberg

    Vanessa Anderberg

    Beautiful words and work here:)

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks, my friend :))

  • Lois Bryan

    Lois Bryan

    What a delightful image, Colleen .. and the title is perfection!!!! But “Happiness: We rarely feel it.” ... woo … bummer!!! I’ve been there … but thank heavens … not there anymore. Sad poem!!!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks, Lois! Ooh, I was mainly focusing on the words Happiness to me is wine, effervescent, superfine. I have been down there, too – but same for me, thankfully no more – hooray for us! Thanks again, dear girl :)))

  • Lois Bryan

    Lois Bryan

    I’m so glad you wrote back and said that, sweetheart … “horray for us” INDEEDY!!! Hugzzz!!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Hehe… yes, indeedy!!! xox

  • mimulux

    mimulux

    awesome colleen! great poem too :)

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks so much, sweetie! :)))

  • Lois Bryan

    Lois Bryan

    ... but you know, in thinking about it more, the poem fits the image beautifully … I can just imagine some beautiful woman of days gone by, old now, gazing back on the hat as an image of her Glory Days and feeling exactly what the poem describes!!!! Clever you!!!!!!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Ooh, yes – what wonderful thoughts!! Such a beautiful story, my friend. I wish it were a hat in the vase, but it’s just flowers ;((

  • mmargot

    mmargot

    Whatever you did here, it is stunning!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Ooh, thanks so much, mmargot! :))

  • Lois Bryan

    Lois Bryan

    REALLY!!! NOOO KIDDING!!! ROFL!! And here I thought it was a very artistic, Art Moderne hat stand!!!!! HAHAHA!!!! ~ thud ~ Well, never let it be said that I don’t have a wild imagination!!!!!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    LOL!!! Oh, but I wish it were a hat!!!! I still think your story fits, though – it can be her bridal posy, yes?!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    And the ‘hat stand’ is a 1950s vase!! hehe

  • valzart

    valzart

    Absolutely lovely sweetheART Happy Easter ;}x happy hippy hugglez

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Oh, thanks so much, Val! :))

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    ... and a happy easter to you, too :))))

  • linaji

    linaji

    Colleen.. I love everything about this work.. and the poem to boot!!! xoxo

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Ooh, thanks so much, lina – I really appreciate that! Like your new avatar :))) xx

  • saseoche

    saseoche

    Gorgeous and def.my fav…..

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Wow, thanks so much, sweetie!! Much appreciated :))

  • Ingz

    Ingz

    outstanding and simply magnificent as always dear Collen xxx Happy Easter my friend and a big hug xxxxx

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Ooh, you’re such a sweetheart – thanks so much, dear Ingz :))

  • roy skogvold

    roy skogvold

    very beautiful Colleen

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thank you, dear Roy :))

  • Kirrill D'Kainn

    Kirrill D'Kainn

    To dear Colleen.

    This is just beautiful … a play on light … !

    Fantastic … !

    Kirrill.

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks so much, Kirrill :)))

  • eclectica

    eclectica

    yay Colleen – this is fantastic – love the synergy with the poem!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Many thanks, sweetie :))

  • Barbara Corvino

    Barbara Corvino

    Poetical image, I like this treatment.
    Ciao. Barbara

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks so much, Barbara – how lovely :))

  • Maggie Bernet

    Maggie Bernet

    wow, this is simply stunning, brilliant piece, I love it

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thank you, Maggie – that’s VERY kind :))

  • TokikoAnderson

    TokikoAnderson

    Is this a photo? its beautiful. Reminds me of Ogden Roden, I like yours better.
    Beautiful words too.
    Happiness is to me ” go with a flow”. I find the happiness within my reach:)

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thank you, Tokiko – I really appreciate that!
    I googled Ogden Roden but can’t find that person – I’d love to see their stuff if you could help me narrow down a search on google.

  • nadine henley

    nadine henley

    wow, Colleen. What an artist! this is a stunning artistic image. And, reading your profile, I see that t’s taken with a mobile phone! I would be regretting all the money I’ve spent on cameras the last 2 years except that I know I couldn’t turn anything from a mobile phone into this – I take my hat off to you!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    What a wonderful comment, thanks so much, Nadine! I really think we just all have to ‘work’ with what we have, and for me at this moment it’s a mobile phone camera. I have to make it work as I’ve no choice! Gotta love Photoshop! I can’t wait till I get me a ‘real’ camera :)))

  • Lois Bryan

    Lois Bryan

    ... laughing … bridal posey it is!!!!!!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Done! :)))
    Thanks, sweetheart!

  • insolitus

    insolitus

    Wonderful picture you have created

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks so much!

  • Antanas

    Antanas

    lovely work

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks, Antanas – nice to see you :)

  • Juany

    Juany

    You are getting better and better !!!!!!! This is a beautiful piece. I love it.
    Blessings, always, to you my dear friend.

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Ooh, thanks so much, sweetheart – I hope so :)))

  • RonnieGinnever

    RonnieGinnever

    Marvelous!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thanks, Ronnie! :))

  • Karin Taylor

    Karin Taylorcommunity helper

    so beautiful…..... really very very creative….. i love the darker colours

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Thank you so much, my friend – I really appreciate that :))

  • Stephen Thomas

    Stephen Thomas

    Beautiful still life!

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Sorry for the tardy response – I missed this! Many thanks, Stephen – I’m so pleased you like it :)))

  • Chookas

    Chookas

    ☼ !!! B R A V O !!! ☼ This EXCEPTIONAL EKPHRASIS Artwork
    has been FEATURED in THE EEG !!     ☼ [May 09]

  • Colleen Milburn replied

    Oh, wonderful – thanks, sweetie!! :))

  • Svetlana Sewell

    Svetlana Sewell

    Lovely job Colleen!

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