Ode to Marc Chagall

By Seretta Martin

a retrospective exhibit, San Francisco, Summer, 2003 

After Bella died her absence saturated your
pallet, stained your paintings with grief. 

Lovers in crimson, no longer floated. 
Nudes who once embodied light 
became victims — their skin a mournful mauve. 

Even your playful animals oozed matador red.
The rooster grew enormous 
and glared at lovers with one sad eye. 

In the corner of a canvas the carnival 
faded to a melancholy vignette. 
A somber jester, dizzy-hearted  
turned no stunts and strummed a dirge. 

The wedding couple tried to dance  
but froze, muted in the weight of lost days. 

Your bride held wire-stemmed buds 
never to open amid wilted leaves — 
her bouquet the scent of mausoleum musk. 

She could no longer float through the air 
with her lover, defying gravity. 

You painted yourself a tragic blue, and  
the yellow bull that art critics don’t understand,
stood bold, its eyes searching for Bella.

Seretta Martin, the managing editor of San Diego Poetry Annual, has authored several poetry books and appeared in a number of anthologies since 2000. She has been a finalist in the Philip Levine Award, Washington Prize and Atlantic Review.  Seretta enjoys teaching at Oasis (Over 50) Learning Center, San Diego Writer’s Ink, and in schools. She appears on ITV shows and curates readings. Her MFA in is in Creative Writing. Seretta's company, Blue Vortex Publishers, produces first edition books for poets. Her passion is creativity and helping others express their talents. Holographic Reality is her next forthcoming book. She is a founding member of Haiku San Diego and lives in the foothills of San Diego, CA with her son and “Itty Bitty,” black cat.