Lorenzo's Oils (or Lorenzo's Painted Universe)

Author: Matt Penfold
Word Count: 674
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Lorenzo's Oils (or Lorenzo's Painted Universe)

I started writing short verses for a series of paintings: “Eighteen Images in Search of a Poet” by Lorenzo Castello.
If you haven’t seen the Tanka verses, also written for this series by Jane Solomon, they are well worth a read, as are a number of other lovely poems by various artists which you’ll find as comments on the images.
I decided to join my verses together as one long and semi-cohesive poem, the meter is not consistent because I wrote a number of these as stand alone verses and had already posted them as comments. I have tried to tie them in and I think it works after a few reads to get the rhythm sorted.

I have also recorded it right here

I’d like to thank Lorenzo for the inspiration and for permission to include his wonderful images here.

Click the images for a better view

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Lorenzo's Oils (or Lorenzo's Painted Universe) belongs to the following groups:

! Creative Writing & Poetry !, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Collaboral Damage, Core [C.O.R.E], First Things, Friendly General Discussion , Friends of RedBubble, The beauty of poetry and Vibration in Art and Verse - VAVoom!

If you’d like me to read it to you

1/18
A butterfly with life so short
A universe of time unchained
Woven sticks a trap, she’s caught
Freedom died but time remained

2/18
When cast upon this hostile shore
I didn’t lose my faith nor curse
This nutshell opened up for me
Lorenzo’s painted universe

So one by one I savoured all
Each unique and quite sublime
As with birds each had its call
And what I heard I wrote in rhyme

3/18
I hitched a ride in a little bus
Beneath a blazing flaming sun
And there I met without a fuss
The girl I knew to be the one

4/18
We spoke as though we had for years
While in the sun of love we basked
Together shedding joyous tears
Naked now and each unmasked

Her beauty made my poor heart race
I felt so happy loved and proud
But soon to put me in my place
She read this poem out aloud:

5/18
Though the feet of men
Have trodden the moon
Sheer beauty alone
Can make a man swoon

But don’t be deceived
By all that you see
A shadow can’t live
Where sunshine must be

6/18
I wasn’t quite sure of just what she meant
The look in her eyes sent me into a swoon
And I have no idea of where the bus went
I woke in her arms on a train from the moon

A man sat beside us and offered us food
Beside him his wizened old wife
We ate it with relish (so not to be rude)
While he pondered the meaning of life

7/18
Is man just a fish in the stream of life
Avoiding the tangle of every web
Who struggles along with child and wife
Until he is caught by the fatal ebb…?

8/18
He leans across the earthly main
And when the reaper’s kite is seen
Forget the love forget the pain
A single slash your slate is clean

9/18
And frozen then in time you stay
As bodies buried deep in snow
Avoid this reaper if you may
But if you can’t you’ll never know

10/18
The source of life is heat and flame
Just like the sun we spin around
It has to be from whence we came
Alas it burns us to the ground

11/18
An analogue cat on a darkened night
In a universe troubled by man
Knows those inside and out of sight
Are working according to plan…

12/18
On the river Styx ‘neath a dark dark cloud
A dead man’s gold was cast ashore
As Pachyderms did trumpet loud:
“He won’t need it anymore!”

13/18
While gulls who dodge the splash of the sea
And live their lives between water and land
appear to be happy and careless and free
But their bones end up in the salty sand

14/18
When rain pours down upon the homes
Of people snug and curled
Those outside who’s skin is soaked
Make contact with the world

15/18
Huddled up for warmth and love
And just to feel as one
Family is the richest source
Of hope and care and fun

Then everything just disapeared
The train, the man, his wife
The girl was old, I’d grown a beard
And we now knew more of life

16/18
We lay beneath a haystack
Sharing love that we divined
And held and kissed each other
Making hay as old Sol shined

17/18
We scaled Jacob’s ladder
To seek eternal life
But did we want to trade away
The years of fun and strife?

Half way up we tumbled off
To find our own true fate
And seek another universe
Lorenzo’s one will wait

18/18
And so at last we floated off
My lady love and I
Farewelled Lorenzo’s universe
To find another sky

Lisa Jewell

Oh Matt,

Sublimely beautiful, a person cannot read each with tears….

A masterful body of work
That has carried my heart with it,

Artwork and verse
Is complete.
xx
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you so much Lisa, you always say the nicest things :-) x
cosimopiro

what a beautiful tapestry. From beginning to end I was bouncing along with the rhythm…had to check myself as to pay attention to the words. Love this one mate.
Matt Penfold replied

Cos, thank you so much mate, I’m glad you enjoyed it :-)
H M Bascom

What an undertaking! Masterful work.
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you Helen, very much appreciated :-)
JaneSolomon

These are just beautiful Matt. What a fine job you have done, so enjoyable. Much love, xxx
Matt Penfold replied

Jane, thank you so much… it was your wonderful writing that introduced me to Lorenzo’s work and I am most grateful for that. We have shared a parallel journey and I too love your interpretations of Lorenzo’s images :-) x
Del Millar

AWESOME, Matt such a beautiful read oxo
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Del, very much appreciated :-) x
raymondoantonio

YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY!! BRILLIANT, BRAVO!! NOW POUR YOURSELF A CAB-MERLOT!!!
Matt Penfold replied

LOL, good onya Ray, Thanks heaps mate. Would you care to join me for a cab-merlot?
Mel Brackstone

Wow, what a project!! Love what you’ve done with Lorenzo’s images, Matt, and thanks for reading it to us!
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Mel, I’m glad you like this, I love the simple style of Lorenzo’s images, really inspiring work. ‘twas you who convinced me that a reading was required, I’m pleased that the new mic is not so crackly as the old one. :-))) x
lianne

Just delightful, marvelous and perfect! A story told so beautifully from beginning to end. Wonderful to read! And to hear!
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you Lianne, your comment is lovely and very much appreciated :-) x
Sally Omar

I JUST LOVE THIS PIECE…I DANCED THROUGH EACH LINE!!!! A DEFINITE MASTERPIECE
AND DEFINITELY A FAV FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!! oxoxoxoxoox
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Sally, you sure deserve a dance… lovely to see you here :-) x
Barbara Cliff

of course I had to read your fascinating poem a few times, Matt, and like you,( i think) I decided life is for living, if one’s lucky,—just wish I could have made a tiny speck of difference
for the better (whatever that is) Time to stop analysing and give it a favourite and read again!
Matt Penfold replied

Barbara, you have made and still do make a difference, you speak up against injustice and environmental destruction and with no one to speak up, these things would continue to be ignored and never addressed. :-) x
Barbara Cliff

Must add—I agree, family is the richest source of hope and care and fun! How lucky we are who feel that way
Matt Penfold replied

:-)
Lorenzo Castello

Matt, your poems are fascinating.
I am speechless, yours words add to my images life. I think I will produce a slideshow of the images and your voice.
Thank You, thank you very much!
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you indeed Lorenzo, your images are just gorgeous and inspirational and touch many people. I am honoured to write for your artwork and so pleased that you enjoy this poem. :-))
Teacup

truely beautiful Matt. Each written separately as you say, but bind together to tell such a story and to add to the beautiful images of Lorenzo’s. xx
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Alison, I’m pleased that you enjoyed it :-) x
Adrian Kent

Wonderful journey, love it!
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you so much Adrian :-)
ArcadiaTempest

Matt you are no slouch when it comes to putting a post together ( know this from our hosting gig from a while ago) It does add more dimension to hear the poet read their words… You have told a story quite epic with so many of the ingredients of life woven eloquently in. I have thought about reading a verse of my own on RB ..you are inspiring me with your words and voice to think about things in the future to do.XXX
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Karen, such a kind and thoughtful comment, I hope you do do a reading of some of your wonderful work. :-) x
autumnwind

Well, I am left fairly speechless. These are all each separately beautiful, and together an incredible masterpiece. Matched with the artwork I am absolutely overwhelmed. Outstanding work. And how wonderful it is to see one artist inspire another. I am smiling like an idiot! Bravo to you. love, shar xoxoxo
Matt Penfold replied

Oh wow Shar, your comment is received with a great smile :~~))) I’m so pleased that you like this work, it is indeed wonderful to be inspired by another artist. Thank you for such a lovely comment :~~) x
Tracey Mac

Each and every one touches me in some way, you have such a beautiful way with words, feelings and delivering emotions, whether it be romance or meandering through life…....you never fail to convey sublime imagery and emotive content…..
I love all of these so much….......and the images are perfect viewing alongside your perfect words…......
x
Matt Penfold replied

Tracey, your comment leaves me almost speechless, I’m so glad you were touched by, and enjoyed, my writing and Lorenzo’s images. I’m gratified and humbled by your generous words, thank you :-) x
rjcolby

Thia was quite a treat to read, Matt. No trick to it. Halloween eve here. ;)
I do have a spot of envy for your huge poetic skills.
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you so much Dick, your words are truly appreciated :-)
hsien-ku

truly an enchanting tale! wonderful writing!
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you indeed, I’m so pleased you enjoyed this :-)
funkyfacestudio

What an inspiring piece, so beautiful and wonderfully put together with those paintings. It was fun to hear you read it as well :)
Matt Penfold replied

Why thank you so much funkyLisa, it was an absolute pleasure to read it to you :-) x
ambient-1

A gorgeous and fitting tribute to wonderful work!
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Robert, I do appreciate your visit :-)
Erika .

oh wow Matt…this is your masterpiece…this is definitely one of my all time favorites of yours. It’s magical and inspiring and go so well with Lorenzo’s work. Just beautiful. I love this piece.
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you Erika, what a lovely thing to say, I hope you’re going well now. :-)
Isa Rodriguez

there are times we are left so amazed and without words.. this is one of those times.. may I just say i had such a great time reading this , basking in its flow and floored with wonder . , and the patience to do this has me also thinking how cool when someone goes above and beyond as you did with this work so complete.. its gorgeous gorgeous
Matt Penfold replied

Isa that is a really kind and thoughtful comment, I do so much appreciate it and I thank you for taking the time to read this :-)
msdebbie

I loved your reading of them Matt – sweet soothing words – lovely collab with Lorenzo xoxo
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks indeed Deb, glad you enjoyed the reading. It was really good to be inspired by such a fabulous artist :-) x
ArcadiaTempest

Congrats on the RB feature Matt… XX
Matt Penfold replied

Why thank you Karen :-) x
Teacup

Fantastic RB feature Matt. x
Matt Penfold replied

My first ever RB feature too, yipee! thanks Alison :-) x
Danielle Knight

amazing, beautiful, brilliant….... you are an amazing talent Matt. Sat with my morning cuppa today, and enjoyed this immensely.
Matt Penfold replied

Oh Danielle you say the nicest things, making me blush now… Thanks so much for your wonderful support of my writing, I really do appreciate it :-) x
valentina63

Its already been said above in many different ways but I must say it again …what a masterpiece of rhyme rhythm and beautiful imagery woven onto an extraordinary tapestry .A masterful crafting of words . Amazing!! Congrats on feature too :)xo
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Valentina, that’s a great compliment and I’m truly honoured by your words :-) x
F.A. Moore

Wowza!!!!! Matt, this is just wonderful!! And congrats on the RB feature. Excellent verse and wonderful collaboration, too.
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Fran, I do really appreciate you coming here to have a read, congrats on your fabulous homepage feature too :-)
paulakerr

:))))) Thank you for sharing….this is wonderful. xxxx
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Paula, I’m pleased you enjoyed it :-) x
Lynda Robinson 25 days ago

Oh I am so glad I found THIS! Absolutely fantastic verse!!!! Love it to bits and it compliments Lorenzo’s intriguing work so well. Beautiful.
Matt Penfold replied 19 days ago

Thank you so much Lynda, I’ve been looking at your artwork and it’s brilliant :-)
Bekyy93 25 days ago

Congrats on being featured in “first things”
:)
Bekyyx
Matt Penfold replied 19 days ago

Thank you so much Beky, really appreciated :-)
bloorain 20 days ago

“I woke in her arms on a train from the moon” there were so many beautiful lines in this, but this one I felt the most. I love the images as well, I can see why you were inspired
Charma Chircop 18 days ago

ao beautiful,going to my favz—Charma