Since January of this year, 2025, I have been taking part in the Stafford Challenge, a worldwide challenge where poets write a poem a day for a year. This project is a tribute to the poet William Stafford, who famously wrote a poem each day for decades.
On Day 106 of the Stafford Challenge, 2 May 2025, I began a series of poems on Andy Warhol prints I saw at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where they have wonderful art on the walls. These are in the shadorma form, six lines with the syllables 3/5/3/3/7/5. Each is an ekphrastic shadorma.
Mayday (M’aidez)
after Andy Warhol, Orangutan
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
Light lemon,
an orangutan,
endangered,
looks at us
from forty years ago. “Help
me . . . we need your help.”
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Orangutan
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
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On Day 107, 3 May 2025, home from Mayo Clinic. Here's a second shadorma on an Andy Warhol print seen there.
Thwarted Courting
after Andy Warhol,
San Francisco Silverspot Butterfly
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
Butterfly
seeking a sweet mate
for ballet,
skyward dance,
but no other silverspots
for her whole life now.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, San Francisco Silverspot Butterfly
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
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On Day 108, 4 May 2025, the third ekphrastic shadorma on the Warhol prints.
We Can Save Them!
after Andy Warhol, Bald Eagle
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
Bald Eagle
— our country’s symbol
no longer
endangered
two decades from Warhol’s art —
flying future skies.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Bald Eagle
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
The Bald Eagle was declared neither endangered nor threatened in 2007. They are flourishing today.
On Day 109, 5 May 2025, another ekphrastic shadorma on one more print from the Warhol Endangered Species portfolio I've been working with.
Megalith Speaks
after Andy Warhol, Black Rhinoceros
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
Indigo
huge mountain am I,
blood orange
obelisk
spiking from my face, sheer cliff.
To the end I stand.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Black Rhinoceros
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
On Day 110, 6 May 2025, once again, an ekphrastic shadorma on another print from the Warhol Endangered Species portfolio . . . today #5.
Parable
after Andy Warhol, African Elephant
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
I recall
those six old blind men,
snake, spear, fan,
tree, wall, rope . . .
stupid. I'm just Elephant.
Noble. Happy. Me.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, African Elephant
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
On Day 111, 7 May 2025, one more ekphrastic shadorma on a different print from the Warhol Endangered Species portfolio ... #6 of 10.
Tree Frog Euphony
after Andy Warhol,
Pine Barren Tree Frog
(Endangered Species, 1983)
Frog's keyboard
imaginary
on tree branch
plays soft frail
melodies, ethereal
music . . . almost gone.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Pine Barrens Tree Frog
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
On Day 112, 8 May 2025, a humorous ekphrastic shadorma — I hope it's funny! — on another Warhol Endangered Species print . . . #7 of 10. I wanted to squeeze the Cowardly Lion in there somehow but ran out of room (a good thing, probably).
Tiger Reigns
after Andy Warhol, TITLE
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
Lion what?
You know he's no king.
Not one stripe,
that Lion!
Look at me: orange and black —
Rex! Tiger's your King.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Siberian Tiger
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
On Day 113, 9 May 2025, on yet one more Warhol Endangered Species print . . . ekphrastic shadorma #8 of 10.
Black and White Seas
after Andy Warhol, Grevy's Zebra
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
We Zebras
ruled the savanna,
our vast herds
horizon
to horizon once . . . the sun
rose and set on us.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Grevy's Zebra
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
On Day 114, 10 May 2025, the penultimate ekphrastic shadorma on Warhol Endangered Species portfolio . . . #9 of 10.
Prayer of the Bighorn Sheep
after Andy Warhol, Bighorn Ram
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
O Mountain,
you are our refuge.
We climb, stand
on your cliffs,
laugh at silly predators
below. Safe, great heights.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Bighorn Ram
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
On Day 115, 11 May 2025, the last ekphrastic shadorma for Andy Warhol's Endangered Species series from 1983. It's been a great little project.
Panda Flirting
after Andy Warhol, Giant Panda
(Endangered Species series, 1983)
Odors, smell . . .
our talk. Scent markers
say friend, foe,
female, male.
We rub love notes on trees, rocks:
come on up . . . I’m here.
—Draft by Vince Gotera [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.]
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Andy Warhol, Giant Panda
(Endangered Species series, 1983). |
Friends, won’t you comment, please? Love to know what you’re thinking. Thanks!
Ingat, everyone. ヅ
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