Ut Pictura Poesis
John Constable, Cloud Study, 24.8cm x 30.2cm, 1821
Ut Pictura Poesis
Ut Pictura Poesis
In our garden off Tompkins Square Park,
today there are shelf clouds, huge flakes
of snow floating down to spindly hostas,
frozen rose buds, blanched ochre lichen,
purple crocuses leaning, half-cocksure
to come out on the bright green fence.
Pancake's gleaming cat’s eye angles off
a three-year old, who’s licking icicles,
and me-- dreaming of Finisterre, a time
of lonely, after-love walks to the sea,
afternoons at an outermost lighthouse.
For an instant, this picture is entirely
painted out in gold, but it soon gives in
to cramps, cold or other odd allurements.