#868 - Hyde Park Sydney - ekphrastic for H. Badham

 

21.v.22

3.141

868

Hyde Park Sydney 

ekphrastic for Herbert Badham’s 1933 painting 

in the Hinton Collection at NERAM

slightly constructivist with the sunlight 

and here’s what brute grey steel

the fountain’s just arrived 

streams might point either way 

so many hats for a stroll

or possible purpose 

brolly down behind her

a woman is reading a letter

there is a disagreement of seasons 

and the weather you never know

manspread of the might-be-unemployed is winter 

and beside him, collar open also, well in the paper 

probably looking for a job 

as if print might absorb

a far wall where

Daily Telegraph fades to something illegible 

but the Bully paid for these waterworks

windows of the offices 

and most eyes cast down  

could be the tail of a whale behind 

what is that proscenium left 

I don’t recognize?

the Bridge is up 

the Depression is on 

Hitler is coming to power

here you see the preparations

as far as we can afford  

the one with a tie 

sleeves rolled up 

leans roller to the lawn

the artist - all folds - looks on 

from a wall adjacent - 

brushes, palette, smock