The Waltz of Women

Caroline Ayers

In the glowing moonlight 

We danced and danced out of sight

For the rest of the world would not understand 

The bond of females in a forgotten land 

Away from any troubles and worries 

Hidden from the real worlds fury 

No one would know our secret 

For we all swore to keep it 

In the trance of solitude 

Every night we would follow through 

A waltz of women by a fountain 

Hidden by the rolling mountains 

Around and around we always moved 

Following the rushing waterfalls groove

The bond was undeniable 

For the joy of our dance kept us in an everlasting spiral 

The Source, 1914

By Edward Middleton Manigault (American, 1887-1922)

I was immediately captivated by the ethereal feel of the painting. I wanted to jump into the painting and explore the lands. It seemed like an escape from reality. Like a place of perfect solitude and endless nature to explore. I focused entirely on the art while writing my poem and did not attempt to emulate any other poets or poems. I felt that I would have a better time creating a poem if I were using only my interpretation and information. I simply described how it made me feel and sort of used the perspective as if I were one of the women in the painting. I made my lines shorter because, personally while reading poetry, I find it’s better to follow along if the lines are short and have aquick flow to them. The main things I wanted to focus on in my poem were the moonlight and the feelings the women would be having. I wanted to capture their emotions of gathering in this secret and ethereal place.

I went to the Gibbes Museum and I did not use generative AI on this assignment.