Art Inspiration, Photo Prompt, Poetry, Strambotto, Theme Prompt, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Trieste: Strambotto

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for dVerse Poetics – Pulling poetry from
the landscape. Our host, Melissa challenges us to
write a poem inspired by one of the paintings
by Austrian Expressionist Egon Schiele.
I have chosen ‘Harbor of Trieste’.

‘Harbor of Trieste’ (1907)
by Egon Schiele

Tangled masts lean crosswise in the amber light
White hulls lie quiet on the old harbor’s breast
Their rigging crossed, drawn taut against the deep night
While the green tides hold the boats in loose arrest
Below, the still water breaks each anchored sight
To ribboned rust and shadow, all dispossessed
And doubles every mast, every rope drawn tight
Into a harbor far stranger than the rest

NAR©2026

Nancy’s Notes: The strambotto traces back to 13th century Italy. It is an 8-line poem with 11 syllables in each line; the rhyme sequence is a/b/a/b/a/b/a/b.

This is “Una Fresca Bavisela (A Cool Gentle Breeze)”, also known as “Marinaresca”, by Publio Carniel and Raimondo Cornet, the quintessential Triestino dialect sea shanty. It tells the story of a local fisherman setting sail into the gulf at night under the moonlight. He sings to his three great loves: his woman, his small sailboat, and the city of Trieste.

Pulling poetry from the landscape

Everything on the elephant trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicate, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

26 thoughts on “Trieste: Strambotto”

  6. A new form for me and a new kind of music too, Nancy. I love the way your strambotto flows like the water in the painting, and especially the way the tangled masts ‘lean crosswise in the amber light’ – great use of colour throughout – and the personification of the harbour.

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    1. Thanks very much, Kim. I was excited to find and try this new Italian form. When I saw the painting “Harbor of Trieste” in the challenge, I felt the strambotto was custom made for it. I’m delighted with the way it turned out and with your very gracious comments. Mille grazie!

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