ADVICE

William Blake had a chat with St. Joseph

Who advised him that he should mix

Tempera, varnish and carpenter’s glue
With just a touch of gold leaf
Before painting on canvas or copper.
Unfortunately, Joseph knows nothing

About painting. Had Blake checked

With St. Luke he’d have been warned

That the gluie would make his pictures

Fade and darken and vanish until

Only ghosts could see them.