art museum

James Jeffery '22

Shipyard silhouetted against the sunset

calm yellows and muted oranges hold hands and whisper friendship to each other

impassioned reds dance with the blues and blacks of a bruised autumn evening

above the ocean so serene it sings the ships to sleep

This wing is deserted. I

read your letters-- that was

a nice gesture. maybe if this painted world was ours

The world of ships and sunsets and sorrows and songs and

letters--

The distorted faces of the Cubists accuse me

frozen in geometric pain

coward, they call in tongues of ice and steel

for shame. They’re loud, so loud,

cacophony in empty rooms

I can’t THINK in here. I only see green pastures

Still waters

Fields of violets dipped in vernal dew, infernal who?

David’s body dogs my steps

I wonder how much sin this statue’s seen--

Setbacks. Momentary setbacks. I came here for a reason

I came here for a statement--

a sign that I was right to want to go--

I leave him behind.

He doesn’t seem to mind.

the courtyard holds the answers. no sordid golden frames

no plaques with long forgotten names

no perfect body crafted by a lover’s hand

I watch the skies and think of wars

of wedding parties crashed by drones

the sky holds only calm yellows and muted oranges

The bruised blacks and blues of the same night

they might’ve seen

all those damn people--

I shake up some spray paint and add my final contribution

Maybe I’ll get a plaque.

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