#2040 - pictures of a life

 

2040

6.213

1.viii.25

pictures of a life

ekphrastic for Richard Scarlett’s portrait of Sir Henry Unton

 

once born there was time

 

it was a certain year

and I sat

for the remembering

 

finery

and pony led

the least once when

but destined then

 

a prancing and a beard of wisp

a frill a lizard crest

 

to lessons!

in ancient tongues

life in a book for a while

 

recession of streets, of lanes

tavern or two

 

the odd implore

banquets, halls

pets like little lions

 

come to man’s estate

 

some solitude – a ponder

 

see face looming

just as sat

 

life was larger

 

music struck

who are these winged devils?

 

life a pilgrimage

of hoof, of wheel, of wagon

barque for the stream

fair wind, take tide

so down we go

 

but

 

death was never far

 

well met as

wise counsel, given, got

 

catastrophes of instrument

and will to sign away

 

a little sleep forever then

 

seven tears for this to sing

 

processional

remember me!

 

a vindication in the bones

laid here beyond their rest