Lynda’s first published poem was “Even in Arcadia,” which appeared in The Daily Athenian, Morgantown, WV, while she was a graduate student pursuing the MFA degree in painting from 1989–1991. She wrote the poem in 1988, when she was an undergraduate student in the BFA program in painting. When she entered graduate school for the MFA in painting, she finally had the courage to send out her poem to the newspaper, and it was published immediately. Many other publications followed on the heels of that first publication as she continued work on her degree.

Lynda’s first published poem was inspired by the Baroque painting of Nicolas Poussin‎ (1594–1665), Et in Arcadia Ego.

More information on this painting can be found at: https://www.artble.com/artists/nicolas_poussin/paintings/the_arcadian_shepherds

In recognition of her first publication, she is sharing the poem that was published in 1990 by The Daily Athenian.

Even in Arcadia

Arcadian mysteries

written on a tomb

words of another time and place

carved

deeply

cut in a stone.

In the evening

shepherds leave their flocks

turn away

to kneel before the tomb.

Damp grass

crushed

beneath weight of knees

they reach out

to touch

tracings

in the stone

and pray

for the key

to unlock the mystery of Arcadia.

We, too,

stand in Arcadia

frozen in time

suspended in tight air

that cannot breathe

trying to understand the words

that will not be known.

Nearby

a smiling face

gown flowing in airless breezes

static

a sentinel that came

to show the way.

©Lynda McKinney Lambert, 1989, 2019. All rights reserved.