Ekphrasis of the painting 'Nighthawks' by Edward Hopper
A requirement for Art Appreciation class.
In the shadows of the evening that lingered, off they went at an unnamed New York Diner
“It’s a city that never sleeps,” says the many.
“A paradox,” uttered by the pair of intimate figures.
*
I was standing at a city street corner late at night. Peering through a diner window.
There is a redhead woman in a red blouse sitting around a wooden countertop. Next to her is a gentleman in a suit wearing a fedora hat and tenderly caressing a cigar with a sharp expression on his face. They seem to be government employees; maybe as secretaries, politicians, or generals, discussing their opinions after listening to the higher-ups quarrel with one another. The diner has a simple interior. Coffee, cups, cream, and sugar are sitting on the countertop. I also noticed two enormous silver coffee urns and how much coffee was in each. The owner of the diner, who appears to be cooking something busy himself asking them questions from time to time. From my vantage position, there's another gentleman there seated on the second bar stool away from them facing his back to me. He's clutching a glass of water in his right hand and reading his newspaper, possibly trying to catch up on the town's talks and issues. Based on how far apart they are seated, the pair and the gentleman did not arrive together. Strangers—I would say. The pair glance at each other occasionally, but their expressions are empty and without any sign of affection. Just exchanging discussions.
I checked the time, and it was late. The diner is supposed to be closed at this time. Perhaps they were an unexpected customer. Fearful of disappointing, the owner accommodated them.
In the recesses of my thoughts, I pondered that status truly commands.
Outside, the diner stands solitary, its glowing windows the sole beacon in the enveloping darkness. A dismal quiet hangs in the air, giving the surroundings an appearance of lifelessness. I couldn’t find the entrance.
When I finally fed up myself watching them,
Off I go to my building.
I locked the door and shut the window curtain.
Grabbed the radio to listen while I rested.
1…2…3… On.
We have witnessed this morning the distant view a brief full battle of Pearl Harbor and the severe bombing of Pearl Harbor by enemy planes, undoubtedly Japanese. The city of Honolulu has also been attacked and considerable damage done. This battle has been going on for nearly three hours. One of the bombs dropped within fifty feet of KTU tower. It is no joke. It is a real war.
[Radio static noise]
Off.
I closed my eyes.
*
When will this be over?
Or maybe, It’s just the beginning.
I let myself sleep.
*
On a side note: The setting gives off an uncanny vibe. The subjects/figures appear to be caught in the center of something, with both a lot and very little going on. There are a lot of storylines I could think of to bring them to life and it gave me the freedom to do so because the elements are placed interestingly. One could immediately think of their connection and let their imagination run wild free. Additionally, I was hooked with the historical context of this painting. World War II was in full swing throughout 1942, when Japan destroyed Pearl Harbor in 1941. I’ve discovered how American cities undertook blackout exercises, dimming or turning out the majority of their lights to decrease the extent of becoming a target. I structured this literary piece from the POV of the unknown viewer based on the angle of the painting, the artist, or those people who are hiding behind closed doors on buildings surrounding the diner.