Watercolor and graphite on paper 8 7/8 x 6 3/8 inches
A few weeks back Susan Thomsen from her blog, Chicken Spaghetti invited us to write a poem beginning with this last line of Walt Whitman’s poem “Song of Myself,” I stop somewhere waiting for you. She also wanted us to write in the style of a poet that we were spending time with. I’ve been spending time with the British Artist, Gwen John, while reading a book on her and her artwork, Gwen John Art and Life in London and Paris, by Alicia Foster. I decided as Gwen John was a very literary person also, and I am so enjoying the book to write the poem about/to Gwen John. Thanks Susan for offering the prompt, hope my slight variation fits in.
Dear Gwen John,
I stop somewhere waiting for you
Between your mottled backgrounds
soften-edge figures
lost in their thoughts, and
reminiscent of Vuillard, Bonnard, but all you.
In-between the absent visits of Rodin
the conversations and poetry of Rilke
the many philosophers and artist’s
you lined your library with
But between your many small yet
deeply-felt portraits, still lifes,
gouache, watercolor, and mostly oils
I’ll stop again and again and
wait for you…
© 2026 Michelle Kogan, draft
Here’s a short article from a recent exhibit of Gwen John’s paintings: Gwen John: Art and Life in London and Paris
Mosey on over to talented poet and writer, Susan Thomsen’s blog, Chicken Spaghetti, where she is also hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Susan!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 