Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

Sun stretches over the park

Bounces off the river

Upwards into the trees

Where the leaves absorb the heat.

 

The trees’ hallow holes

 Send beams of incandescent light

Onto the frail white hats

That adorn the heads of children

 

Women dress modestly

In sun-soaking petticoats

Hiding under the dark shadows

Of umbrellas and trees.

 

Young girl’s cling to

Their mothers long-sleeves

The men rowing in the river

Less inconvenienced by their wardrobe

 

An illustration of normalcy

Of social acceptance or ranking

Hides under  the tree’s shadows

With the heat-exhausted women 

Reviews

[Jodi Eaton]

I love your use of alliteration (hallow holes, sun-soaking, rowing in the river, etc.). It has a Victorian air to it.

[Hyunjin Kim]

I'm not sure if short lines and these kinds of enjambments are right for what you've written about, however in general I must say this is very well done. I like how you've described things well enough that I could imagine it rather clearly in my own mind; I think that's definitely a strong point in this poem. The last stanza is especially my favorite, as if it's all of these women trying too hard to be accepted within their social structures even at the cost of their comfort and stuff like that.

[Morgan Hallam]

I really liked this poem because you set up the scene so perfectly that I can recreate the picture in my head without seeing it. I loved the second stanza where is said "send beams of incandescent light" and I particually liked the last stanza the most. It really helps create the idea of how social status was such a huge part in histroy and sets the time frame of the poem.