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June Hall

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The Artist’s Line

 

He takes his line for a walk,
surprised how it grows and grows.
He offers it pen or paint or chalk,
leaves it free to follow its nose.

It runs ahead, sets a cracking pace
larking with squirls and squiggles.
Against that glowing sky-gold space
it hops and twirls and giggles.

With circles, squares and curling hoop
it shapes a geometric city,
zigs and zags and loops the loop -
in hot Saharan sand turns witty.

Into church and minaret it roams
where midday cross and crescent sleep,
draws round all the different domes,
uniting them in one long sweep.

But when he thinks to call it back
it disobeys, laughs, splits in two,
each shoots off on a separate tack.
He waits

 

 

Inspired by Paul Klee’s painting,
City in the Intermediate Realm,
painted after his visit to Tunisia in 1914

Page(s) 19

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