The internet is divided on the name of the painter here. The National Gallery of Art and Christie’s call him “Carducius”, but he is referred to as “Cadurcis” here, and by the Illinois Historical Art Project. Wikipedia uses both, as well as the jovial C.P. Ream, which is how he, at the age of 20, was referred to in the Cleveland Leader of 1858/9.
C.P. Ream was a leading fruit still-life artist of the time, and you can see why in Blackberries Spilling from A Tin Cup. You want to pick the fruit from the page and eat it.
I was inspired by blackberries in mythology and folklore. The form is an espinela. More about ekphrastic poetry here. More of my ekphrastic poetry here.
Blackberries
From the blood of the Titans, black
magic wrapped in thicket, your sweet
dark pearls spill, segmented as seeds,
blood of remorse, and healing sac.
Fairies await our coming back
to drink your juice of earth-spice wine,
stain our mouths, worship at the shrine
of thorns. Each pearl a universe.
Each mouthful a renewal source.
A black third eye to enlighten.
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