AN EKPHRASTIC POEM

rising

Scrittura Third Thursday Prompt

Gloomy Day, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (Netherlands) 1565

trees paint the sky an angry charcoal
humanity re-reaching for another
nullifying barrel load of fear
to stagger home
the storm still raging
for a woman kneels
her victories
drowned by petticoats
a river on the rise
to drown them all
in tears

© Sally A Mortemore 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Thank you so much for reading 🙏

In reply to Ann Marie Steele’s prompt:

Gloomy Day

And if you are very eagle-eyed you might spy a much younger me in the below video dressed in white petticoats …