Ah, Max, I know the feeling well. A few paintings and prints have landed in
op shops in West Aust just before we left its shores. I couldn't do it with
books because most of those who wrote them still cruise the op shop shelves
and may spot them. (I've found a couple of my signed copies in second hand
bookshops over the years - oh the shameful memories of why I blatantly
tried to influence their view of me!)
Good poem. I'd take out all quality references to the painting - just let
the quandary speak for itself.
Andrew
On 28 November 2012 18:20, Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> Max how could you throw away Aunt Effie's painting painted with love for
> you!!
> You heartless dog loving monster
> Cheers P
> Ps one of her awful so called 'botched paintings sold for £1 million
> recently
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Max Richards
> Sent: 28 November 2012 06:08
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: 'Auntie Effie's Gift'
>
> Auntie Effie's Gift
>
> She'd done the painting -
> I had to thank her,
> and take it with me
> home to Australia.
>
> But truly, it was a botch -
> which was all I'd expected.
> What was my favourite
> Auckland view? I'd told her -
>
> Judges Bay, the tide in,
> St Stephen's white Chapel
> on the sloping turf
> with its settlers' graves.
>
> There they are, the lot.
> And a skyline of trees
> vague, indeterminate,
> though doubtless pioneer.
>
> But her art! her skills!
> conspicuous by their
> total absence!
> She wrapped it -
>
> Uncle Albert had
> already framed it -
> away we went.
> Decades it sat
>
> in the darkest corner
> of several successive
> Melbourne addresses,
> this latest surely its last.
>
> Downsizing requires
> we part, her daub and me.
> Yet - bin it? too cruel.
> Leave at a charity shop?
>
> Most likely they'd bin it.
> Is there a shredder might take it?
> Burning would be the thing,
> if bonfires were still permitted.
>
> Effie herself I last saw
> in a hospital bed
> near death from cancer.
> I held her painting hand, said
>
> I'd speak at her funeral -
> a promise I broke.
> Albert went soon after.
> Her paintings? gone.
>
> That view is still a favourite -
> Judges Bay, the tide in,
> St Stephen's wooden Chapel,
> sloping turf, old graves.
>
--
Andrew
http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
'Undercover of Lightness'
http://walleahpress.com.au/recent-publications.html
'Shikibu Shuffle'
http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/new-from-aboveground-press-shikibu.html
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