Drowning Girl – Pop Art

Drowning Girl

Cry me a river, he said
cold and cruel
words laced with sarcasm
playing me for a fool
 
Driving away
and leaving me alone
my tears fell in puddles
in this place unknown
 
The water rising quickly
and on a current so strong
I am carried away
I did nothing wrong
 
I don’t care
I'd rather sink
than call Brad for help
What do you think?

 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

Victoria is today’s host of dVerse Poets.
She has prompted us with Pop Art, asking
us to choose an iconic piece and write a
poem about it. I chose "Drowning Girl"
by Roy Lichtenstein.

Considered a cornerstone of Lichtenstein’s
work, Drowning Girl is sometimes also
referred to as ‘I Don’t Care! I’d Rather Sink’.
The printing method and the use of speech
balloon to convey thoughts give the painting
an appearance of a comic book page.
The heroine appears a victim of an unhappy
love affair who would rather drown than
ask for her lover’s help.

	    

  40 comments for “Drowning Girl – Pop Art

  1. November 6, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    this is awesome, thank you for sharing.
    If you have a chance, please check out my music/art blog at https://thehighsnlows.com.
    would mean a lot,

    Lo xo

    • Christine Bolton
      November 7, 2019 at 9:04 am

      Thank you! I checked out your blog. Very nice. I loved your sketches of the end and the lips. Excellent! ☺️

      • December 1, 2019 at 3:37 pm

        thank you so much! 🙂

  2. Beverly Crawford
    October 12, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    Oh, that Brad. He probably wouldn’t toss a life jacket anyway, so swim, honey SWIM!

    • Christine Bolton
      October 12, 2019 at 9:34 pm

      Lol! Funny Beverly! 🤣

  3. October 12, 2019 at 12:30 pm

    Also glad you used Roy Lichtenstein – he’s the only pop artist whose painting I really like – the painting is so fluid and appealing, contrasts dramatically with his ironic subject matter. You caught his tone perfectly, great example of ekphrastic poetry..

    • Christine Bolton
      October 12, 2019 at 2:51 pm

      Thank you so much Christine! I really appreciate your feedback 🙂💕

  4. October 12, 2019 at 12:06 pm

    amazing Christine I love it! <3

    • Christine Bolton
      October 12, 2019 at 2:50 pm

      Thanks Carol Anne! I really appreciate it 🙂

  5. October 12, 2019 at 4:24 am

    I remember those teenage magazines, with their melodramatic plot lines. She needs to get over herself.
    Nice poem, though.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 12, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      Yes weren’t they a hoot! 🙂💕

  6. October 11, 2019 at 11:56 pm

    I absolutely agree, I’d sink before calling Brad or anyone like him 🙂 Love your poetry–am I repeating that too much? 🙂

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 11:59 pm

      Thank you! No … never! 🙂💕 I really appreciate it.

      • October 12, 2019 at 1:17 am

        I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the whole “men = rats” deal… 🙂

      • Christine Bolton
        October 12, 2019 at 9:41 pm

        You will, given time, I’m sure. Never close your heart permanently 🥰

      • October 12, 2019 at 11:22 pm

        I’m 67, content alone–and just to clarify, I can appreciate the occasional male who’s worthy of respect, and happily married 🙂

      • Christine Bolton
        October 13, 2019 at 6:58 am

        🙂👍

      • October 13, 2019 at 2:53 pm

        🙂

  7. October 11, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    So glad you went with a Lichtenstein–he was truly an icon of the Pop Art movement and like so many others began with marketing or cartoon illustrations. As for Brad…smart girl to ignore him.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 9:51 pm

      Yes she was a feminist! Loved the prompt 🙂💕

      • October 11, 2019 at 9:58 pm

        Should be the response of any woman–feminist or not.

      • Christine Bolton
        October 11, 2019 at 10:04 pm

        Indeed!

  8. October 11, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    Swim away! You can do it!

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      Ha! Yes she did! 🙂

  9. October 11, 2019 at 9:58 am

    Very good write. We pathetically put too much of our self-worth in other’s approval and drown in self-pity afterwards.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 11:04 am

      Yes that can be true. I think in this poem she was showing her strength, and acknowledging she didn’t need him. She was too proud.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 11:05 am

      Thank you so much Sabio 🙂💕

  10. October 11, 2019 at 6:30 am

    Sink or swim
    on his whim
    better off without him

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 8:37 am

      Oh good one Ivor!

  11. October 11, 2019 at 4:20 am

    Why not swim
    To the other side
    Towards freedom
    Against the tide.

    Just a trial and I loved your poem !!

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 8:38 am

      Great lines! Yes, she didn’t need him 🙂

      • October 11, 2019 at 9:20 am

        Thank you Christine 🙂

  12. October 11, 2019 at 3:18 am

    I can understand her feelings. There are times when we think that punishing ourselves will make them sorry. It seldom works.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 8:39 am

      Yes, exactly but I don’t think he was going to help anyway 😑

      • October 11, 2019 at 9:54 am

        I guess not😉

  13. October 11, 2019 at 12:18 am

    Beautifully illustrated emotions!

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 12:35 am

      Thanks Reena! 🙂

  14. October 10, 2019 at 11:59 pm

    May she find the strength to reach the shore.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2019 at 12:35 am

      Yers Frank!! 🙂

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