February 21 -- Patricia Wellingham-Jones

In the Eye of the Beholder 

   The Wild Swan, oil on canvas painting by Alexander Pope, 1900, De Young Museum

On the museum wall

a swan, head down, hangs

against a dark green door,

its wings a white fan of entreaty,

head dangling on the long slender neck.

Before the image stands a child,

there as part of a generous school gift.

Her eyes reflect a darkness

that should be unknown,

her mouth a circle of horror.

The small girl tries to melt

into the big girl solid behind her,

clutches her stomach,

struggles not to cry.

The sponsor turns away,

never pictured what might happen

when he gave the inner-city children

their first experience in fine art.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27The_Wild_Swan%27_by_Alexander_Pope,_1900.JPG