Visiting Renoir – A Poem

How could you look at this stunning Renoir and not want to reach out and eat those fruit? This work was painted at the country house of Renoir’s patron, Paul Berard, and is one of two that feature the same faïence jardinière.

Another in my ekphrastic series. More of my ekphrastic poetry here.

Visiting Renoir

I called it a blue and white ceramic.
You called it a faïence jardinière.
I called Paul Berard’s home a farmhouse.
You called it a pied-à-terre.
The tapestry, you noted, was crimson red.
Did you notice, like my lips? I said.
We painted chalk cliffs, poppy fields, shingled beaches.
I spoke of love. You spoke of peaches.

©elsp 2025

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