Ekphrastifc Poem of Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds

by Cameron Glass

A million seeds, but not one flower grows.

Each one conforming with its neighbor, but wishing it could split from the rest.

Not a whisper is whispered, every sound is secluded.

Not a single unique tone or shade.

Not a peak of green or a pixel of blue.

And the artist creates this pile of sadness only for us to think about it.

This pile will go on, staying the same grey, still, sunflowerless sunflower seed collection,

Until the exhibit closes, the people stop wondering, and seeds are removed.

The seeds will be replaced with their final evolutions.

Streaks of green and blue and yellow will light up this room with another artist’s work,

and the seeds will know they have done their job.