Tuesday, June 26, 2018

LIFE OF THE ARTISTS


Gaugin, Vollard the art-dealer tells me,
Employed a witch. She had sought
Maid's work but wasn't much good at it;
He used her as a model. Breton peasants
Urged she be fired; in the resulting fracas
Gaugin broke his foot and limped ever after.

At concerts, politely listening to sonatas,
Cezanne wished a barrel organ was playing
Or perhaps a steam calliope. One of his pictures
Refused to be what he wanted; he hung it
From a noose in a tree. I like to think
Vollard pleaded for the poor thing's life.

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