Whatever you thought
of the modern art
you never said
you were impassive
your eyes or features
betraying nothing
you studied the art work
in your usual calmness
no ****** expression
no raised eyebrows
no tut-tutting
even the dead sheep
in the glass case
didn't put you off
or raise
emotive response
you eyed everything
walking slow
holding the programme
bought at the door
looking at each
as you went by
after a while
we moved along
to the small café
in the gallery
and had drinks
and sandwiches
and you talked
in your soft
open manner
not of art
or what we'd seen
but of work
and what you did
and unfolded things
like a magician
without revealing
secrets of it all
then we moved on
and you
were silent again
into the other rooms
of modern art
the Picassos
and Mondrians
and others
you taking photo shots
with your mobile phone
eyeing all the art
showing no emotion
no tilt of head
or wide-eyed
revelation
of surprise
just your own way
of appreciation son
your own
gentle way
of moving between
what is good or great
or seemingly crap
with the calmness
of a swan
through water
your depth
drinking it all in
with no pretence
or show
just that inner knowing
what you liked
and didn't
I am glad
you came with me
that day
the Tate Modern
wouldn't have been
the same somehow
your silence
your calm taking in
of art
your secret
appreciation
made it all
worth while
some way
but now
your untimely death
my son
makes it seem all
the more worth while
that day
that art
the shared time together
but I'd give
any Mondrian
or Picasso art away
just to be with you again
if only
for one more day.
Feb 17, 2014
Feb 17, 2014 at 2:19 AM UTC
Whatever you thought
of the modern art
you never said
you were impassive
your eyes or features
betraying nothing
you studied the art work
in your usual calmness
no ****** expression
no raised eyebrows
no tut-tutting
even the dead sheep
in the glass case
didn't put you off
or raise
emotive response
you eyed everything
walking slow
holding the programme
bought at the door
looking at each
as you went by
after a while
we moved along
to the small café
in the gallery
and had drinks
and sandwiches
and you talked
in your soft
open manner
not of art
or what we'd seen
but of work
and what you did
and unfolded things
like a magician
without revealing
secrets of it all
then we moved on
and you
were silent again
into the other rooms
of modern art
the Picassos
and Mondrians
and others
you taking photo shots
with your mobile phone
eyeing all the art
showing no emotion
no tilt of head
or wide-eyed
revelation
of surprise
just your own way
of appreciation son
your own
gentle way
of moving between
what is good or great
or seemingly crap
with the calmness
of a swan
through water
your depth
drinking it all in
with no pretence
or show
just that inner knowing
what you liked
and didn't
I am glad
you came with me
that day
the Tate Modern
wouldn't have been
the same somehow
your silence
your calm taking in
of art
your secret
appreciation
made it all
worth while
some way
but now
your untimely death
my son
makes it seem all
the more worth while
that day
that art
the shared time together
but I'd give
any Mondrian
or Picasso art away
just to be with you again
if only
for one more day.
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