The Wooden City
by Jack Swenson
La Branche
Just outside of town there is a tree of pink flowers guarded by a red bull. “You may pick just one,” says the bull that ignores the naked maiden hiding among the branches. The young man smiles. “To be sure,” he says. “One will be enough.”
Ballet Russe
On high a centaur is pulling a yellow chicken on a sled, and below, in the streets, a woman in her nightgown carries a spear while behind her a man waves the flag of revolution.
The dancers are aloft in midair, high above the houses of the city, unmoored by mortal earth. The man holds his partner's waist lovingly; the dark-haired girl spreads her arms and legs and flies.
Paradise
Their naked bodies enjoined, they lie beneath a verdant apple tree. A sliver of moon gives a woman with red hair light to see. Ah, how sweet is forbidden fruit, how delicious undiscovered sin! The man in his innocence dreams of the woman's hair, her soft, ripe breasts. The woman holds the succulent orb in her hand.
War
The Hun has set fire to the town. A woman sobs by a body in the snow covered village street. A horse-drawn wagon filled with refugees begins its plodding escape. The sky is dirty with smoke. A snow white beast with horns and a beard looks on while in the distance a figure in rags hangs upon a cross.
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Author's Note
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Great set, Jack! Love how they fit together so nicely yet each stands alone.
Grande with an "e."
fave with an "e" for excellent.
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
A perfect image: "The Hun has set fire to the town. A woman sobs by a body in the snow covered village street. A horse-drawn wagon filled with refugees begins its plodding escape. The sky is dirty with smoke. A snow white beast with horns and a beard looks on while in the distance a figure in rags hangs upon a cross."
Wonderful work. One of your best, Jack.
I so agree with Sam! These are so ordered and yet not. I love them all and each one individually. Well done, Mr. Swenson. enormous fave
Love this, Jack - Great imagery, gorgeous writing *
UH-HUH. Totally.
*
Wow.*
so different, so far apart.
liked it alot.
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OK. All the descriptions are based on Chagall paintings. I love that inspiration, that idea, that execution. But why is it called "The Wooden City"?
I'm asking, but it doesn't really matter. These are lovely.
*
Note: Bill (aka Sherlock) found three of the four paintings! Can anybody else i.d. #3?
Good descriptive writing, choice of words and phrases. I did not know your stories based on paintings when I first read them. They stand alone very well and are thought provoking together.
Oh my, this is so rich, dense. The stand alone sections all the more powerful in succession. As a Chagall fan, I was really blown away by this. And I like that another artistic medium infers another.
Fave.
I felt like I was tripping when I read this [or how I imagine tripping would feel]. Cool!