December 13 -- Barbara Simmons

Cezanne: Still Life with Skull

                                             So.

                                             the skull

                                             ensnares

                                             you, too.            

                                                            As flesh assigned

                                             to stopper

                                             bungholes stops

                                             the mind, you too

                                             assigned the skull

                                             its space

                                                            and for all time

                                             you placed

                                                            the base of thought                       

                                                                                                         and dream

                                             atop a book.

                                                            I nod,

                                                            agree.

                                                                           Words could be

                                                                           my death.

 

http://www.barnesfoundation.org/collections/art-collection/object/4712/still-life-with-skull-nature-morte-au-crane