Saturday, November 13, 2010

Demuth & Williams No. 5

Among the rain
and lights
I saw the figure 5
in gold
on a red
firetruck
moving
tense
unheeded
to gong clangs
siren howls
and wheels rumbling
through the dark city.

Charles Demuth, The Figure 5 in Gold (1928), Museum of Modern Art, New York
William Carlos Williams, "The Great Figure," Sour Grapes (1921)
at

2 comments:

  1. Richard Theodore Beck5:08 AM

    Its quick soft silver bell beating, beating,
    And down the dark one ruby flare
    Pulsing out red light like an artery,
    The ambulance at top speed floating down
    Past beacons and illuminated clocks
    Wings in a heavy curve, dips down,
    And brakes speed, entering the crowd.
    The doors leap open, emptying light;
    Stretchers are laid out, the mangled lifted


    Karl Shapiro, Auto Wreck

    ReplyDelete
  2. johanna5:35 PM

    Notice "Bill," "Carlo," and "W.C.W." along the bottom. This is a portrait of his best friend, Williams. Together, the painting and the poem are two of my greatest loves! Just another reason to love Lancaster.

    ReplyDelete