Francisco's Dog by poet Vanessa Zimmer-Powell

Vanessa Zimmer-Powell is a lover of language, literature, and poetry, and has been writing poetry for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English from the University of Texas at Austin, a Bachelor of Sciences with a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. During the work day she is a speech and language pathologist and director of a pediatric rehabilitation clinic. During her off hours she writes poetry, participates in poetry open mics, does yoga, and enjoys art in Houston. Since her move to Houston in 2010, she has become a member of the “Poets in the Loop” writing group and was one of the 2011 juried poets at the Houston Poetry Festival. She enjoys ekphrastic poetry and has been a featured reader at each reading of the Rice Gallery “Words and Art” reading series. Prior to moving to Houston two years ago, she hosted the poetry open mic at Mod Coffee Shop in Galveston, and was a member of the Galveston Poets Round Table.

Vanessa Zimmer-Powell will be a featured poet at the FPL Poetry Series reading on Wednesday, October 3 at 7pm. This reading, to celebrate National Poetry Day, will be hosted by poet John Milkereit and will also feature poets Kelly Ellis, and Carrie Kornacki (Garns).

Perro Semihundido
Francisco Goya
circa 1819-1823
Museo del Prado, Madrid

                                                  Francisco's Dog

(a reflection on Francisco de Goya's painting, “Perro Semihundido”)

Perro semihundido

half-drowning

in sea of brown

looking towards sun

dirty straw colored sky

Sole proprietor

of your last yelp

before going under

tasting the tawny

thick

mud

of this era black painting

brown

Semihundido

swaying with the curve

of the earth;

submitting

and now you are alone

How I wanted to save you

but couldn't;

how I wanted to press

against your fur;

tell you that more darkness

would not come...

You stared into the ominous

no longer panting

fur wet

anticipating doom

seeing only death;

and I ;

I left you in your darkness

~Vanessa Zimmer-Powell

 More poems by Vanessa Zimmer-Powell:

Growth
Grandpa's New Orleans Farm
How Light is the Line 
Voice of the Bedouin

Video poem by Vanessa Zimmer-Powell: 

Grandpa's New Orleans Farm