Wild With MisT
Wild with mist the Turner paintings shine
Upon the walls where I will stand and gaze
Embedded in the wind and water
Emboldened by the sight of other worlds
I wander through the softly spreading sunlight
Into another, and then another world
Seeing the heads of whales,
Seeing the ships of night
Sighting places Turner went to paint
Slipping into deep waters, worlds much traveled,
Sightings that would save the
Wind, the water and the sea for me to dwell in
Drinking coffee in the lovely old café,
Dimly lighted as I sip my café a lait
Reading the guide book to this old walled museum, pitted with wind and rain and bullet holes from
Some old battle in the streets-
That lead down to the waterfront where whaling ships of old sink in water to their
Knees, like whales impaled on hooks of rusted steel and drowned in blood
Upon the black harpoons
I tip the waiter and go back to gaze
Upon the white misted scenes
That leap like Visions from the canvas of the man
Who had a lover in a little sea-swept town
Near London
Mr. Turner in his fine black hat and unclouded eye who spied the magic in the water’s mist
Among the ships
Wild with mist the Turner Paintings shine
Upon the walls where I stand and gaze