5428. BESMIRCHED

BESMIRCHED

Art museums close more doors than they open :

a man steps outside to smoke a cigarette, like it

should be, I guess. Guston and Pearlstein combined

couldn't take all the soot. A besmirched painting is

a wrecked reputation. In the meantime, fine ladies

are set, and having their teas in garden of sculpture.

-

Why am I even standing here, I ask myself. The 

grand place in the sky is not for me  -  that wide art

on the wall, some 1940's intaglio, is explained for

all to see on the little guide-card on the wall; or the

speakers in one's ears, talking on rental buds.

-

Sit me down and let me rest  -  the oasis chair is

guiding me through. In the movie room they're

showing a Joseph Cornell film; I know I've seen

it before but will too again. I like all that stuff  -  

dark and silent and brainy, mysterious. Makes

me to wonder of the days I've been living.

-

If I were a holy man I'd go to the Holy Land.

As it is, I'll just stay here and take it all in,

learn what I'm learning and see 

where I've been.