From Fairbanks, I've a golden heart,
where warmth is what we all impart;
from my soul I bleed blue and gold.
I will dance 'neath Aurora's lights
brave bears and bitter winter nights;
my mind's forget-me-not extolled.
Soft skin, with blush of Sitka rose,
no frostbit fingers, or my toes;
and yet, tears flow for days of old.
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Author Notes
Artwork: Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 - February 6, 1918) was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, sketches, and other objects d'art. Found on a public domain search.
The Nove Otto poetry form was created by Scott J. Alcorn. It is a nine-lined poem with 8 syllables per line. The rhyme scheme is as follows: aacbbcddc.
Fairbanks, Alaska (where I was raised and still live) is known as the Golden Heart City, where you will find extremely cold temperatures and people with exceptionally warm hearts. As you might have guessed, Alaska is a bit slower paced than many places on this planet. Our cities have low populations and we have a tendency to stick to the old ways of doing things. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it... and if it is broke, use duct tape!"
That pretty much sums us up. Many people that live here still live in dry cabins (no running water) and use outhouses, even in the dead of winter. (Not me lol I like a few creature comforts, especially on cold winter nights.) But, we're all taught to rough it from an early age, just in case we have to. Hunting, fishing, and camping are popular pastimes, with dog mushing, skiing, sledding (snow machining) and hockey being our leading sports.
When I saw this painting I felt like it was the picture of what I feel inside. So, this poem is autobiographical, though the girl in the painting looks nothing like me. Or does she? lol This is my first Nove Otto poem and it is ekphrastic (inspired by artwork)
Thanks for taking the time to read and review.
Kim
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