Art Museum

Dwelling in the undisturbed cave,
Whose walls are filled with the beautiful 
Expression of that lonely toil
Which reaps little known reward,
But instead gives sweet mental gift 
From artist to man, lives the canvas;
Bestowing its divine ease upon the
Sufferer of melancholy feeling.

Oh! To commune with the ghost
Whose living brush painted scenes
Of such still contemplation, and
Share in quiet understanding the 
Burdens of man’s inner mind. 
 
On Seeing a Bedframe on a Wall

Oh, behold! This disassembled structure
Of dreamy rest; the one who
First slept in rectangular safety 
Whispers as you walk by.
What fantasies did this castle of
Sleep bestow upon the smokeless
Mind of man or child?
What life came riding upon 
God’s breath to find its birthplace
In the protection of this pine?

What breath hath departed man’s decaying body? 
What death haunts this structure of eternal rest?
For now, this rich mystery lies dormant, 
Broken for the momentary glance of passersby.

Portraits

To sit and behold the portraits of 
These lost souls of past significance,
Brings thoughts of joy and intellect. 
For neither man nor woman, whose
Eyes gaze from past into present
Have an expression of joy.

Could it be that happiness to these
Rich souls can only result from lack of 
Understanding? Is understanding a 
Blessing which God bestows upon an
Uncommon man, forever to live 
Outside of an unknown happiness?
Is to smile an absurd denial of
The cruelty of this world?