Welcome to poetryvlog.com
A weekly video reading of poetry by the poet.
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION
by Thaddeus Rutkowski
Went to the art museum to see some van Gock. Dropped Ecstasy at the frist
water fountain I could find. Looked at crazy landscapes. Jagged lines. Swirls.
Sawtooth patterns. Van Gock had some unresolved issues, I could tell. Also saw
some paintings by a guy named Chain Saw, or Chaim Saw. Gnarly stuff. Tortured
portraits. Got into an internal Picasso/Picawso debate. You know: “You say
Picasso; I say Picawso.” Then wondered, what's the difference between Monet and
Manet? Got nowhere fast with that one. Then got into that old Abstract
Expressionist mnemonic: “Newman shut the door; Rothko pulled the shade; Reinhardt
turned off the light.” Very soothing, but sketchy. Saw a piece called Lady With
Erimine and wondered if it was the last weasel painting. Found out Chagall died
long ago and couldn't believe it. Got into some heavy denial, then accepted the
death as sad, but not as sad as if it had happened yesterday, or to a close
relative. Listened to a tour guide talk about repressed anger and the relative
merits of paintings vis-à-vis blank walls. Sat at the Egyptian temple and felt
the Ecstasy really take hold. Thought about the architect who designed that
glass pyramid in Paris and wondered: If I.M. Pei, who are you? Tossed a coin in
the fountain and wished for domestic bliss. Tried not to look anyone directly
in the eye. Because if I did, they would know about the Ecstasy, of course.
But there were some young women I couldn't help looking at-in fact, couldn't
help stalking from gallery to gallery. Felt like I was walking on clouds. Also
felt like a criminal. Found my favorite statue: White Slave. Nice, demure
bondage. Smooth surfaces. Skinlike effects. Went back to stalking, but all of my
original targets were gone. Found my way around the balustrade, the colonnade,
and the balcony. Looked for God in the details. Then noticed all eyes were on
me. Went out basically the way I came in.