Turner on Varnishing Day
by William Parrott, c. 1846
The man remained competitive as long
as he could paint. Not that he cared about
his reputation (odd) or figure (stout)
or clothing (old) or even sales (still strong).
The task at hand meant he could look around
at others’ work, appraise his own, and make
adjustments based on anything he found,
regardless of who did a double take.
This prodigy-professor-traveler
in later years aspired to do his best
with art as always. No one could deter
him from performances beyond the rest.
Jane Blanchard of Augusta, Georgia, has recent work in Amsterdam Quarterly and Silkworm. Her latest collection is Furthermore.
Pulsebeat Poetry Journal 