Absolute Mirror Absolute
An ekphrastic experimental poem (best viewed on your computer rather than your mobile for the proper structural effect)
Absolute Mirror Absolute
Silver quill spear scrawling script upon the tide, Ambergris heart snares the smoldering sun. The mountain, Amethyst incense exhale, Draping velour luminance Across the solitary hunter’s salt-damp skin; He divines mercurial silk of light, The cradle where day dissolves— Le miroir—eidetic glimmer of absolute. L'absolu—eidetic glimmer of le miroir, The cradle where day dissolves, He divines mercurial silk of light, Across the solitary hunter’s salt-damp skin; Draping velour luminance Amethyst incense exhale, The mountain, Ambergris heart snares the smoldering sun. Silver quill spear scrawling script below.
©2026 S y l v i A 🌞 K a l i n A Jestem Lux Mystica Krwi Ogniowej
Produced by Saccharum (Sylvia 🌞 Kalina & Jozef Cain)
Meditation:
When I came across JC’s ekphrastic prompt featuring John La Farge’s “The Entrance to the Tautira River,” what stood out to me most was the symmetry of the landscape. The painting practically begged me to utilize a mirror effect to honour that stillness. To see the other writers’ poems, sit with them here.
I spent some time researching La Farge to understand him a bit better and I was intrigued by his background in opalescent stained glass. He had a unique way of using thin glazes to let light bounce through paint, creating a sense of translucence that feels almost alive. I immediately felt inspired to experiment with the architecture of the page. Hence, the mirror structure. A mirror poem can be experienced in two ways: a reader might follow the traditional flow from top to bottom—approaching the water and then submerging into the reflection—or they might start at the center (where the fisherman stands) and read outward into the sky and the river simultaneously.
It was a difficult and playful challenge to work within this “palindrome” of sorts. While repetition can often feel stale, I attempted to use it to capture the same motionless energy La Farge achieved: the fisherman pinned in a moment of electric intensity while the river remains Le miroir. In this piece, the layout is a vital part of the meaning—a space where words echo and return, and the observer meets the reflection. The Absolute.
Saccharum is a sensory journey of depth and contrast where written poetics and the spoken word merge with music unlocking boundless artistic possibility in the rhythm of every breath.
This was a rather wonderful experiment! Palidromic mirror-poetry like this is technically impressive to begin with, but the way you use language elevates it to something genuinely beautiful and fascinating. There's a kind of lilting surrealism to your imagery that reflects the painting but also adds depth and interiority. The ambient purple tint becomes and "exhale" of amethyst; the water and the hunter's target are reconfigured into the "ambergris heart" of the piece. Setting aside the complexity your choice of words adds, it's lovely to see language used so melodically and beautifully, even for its own sake. I'm afraid I can't offer much meaningful critique - I know a lot more about prose than poetry - but I can say that this was a profoundly satisfying read. Thanks for sharing.
transported.
so many levels to this, the symmetry seeps mysteries. the motion, the trance, your devotion to the craft. stellar.
the painting is also intriguing. can’t wait to see this on a larger screen. mountain in back looks like a profile blowing the clouds, which in reflected in the river. so many questions. why is the fish behind the fisherman. is he distracted by woman and child in the distance…