THE PAINTING

Hanging on my office wall,

Soothing to the soul,

Is a painting by Seurat,

An artist whom I extol.

The scene is of a park

Near Paris long ago.

A sun-lit afternoon,

River Seine and shore aglow.

The park is full of people,

Lounging near the stream,

Or stately strolling,

Not a trouble it would seem.

The world is warm and safe,

Peace and contentment reign,

Everything in its place,

Secure and slow to change.

This moment of tranquility

Seurat was quick to seize.

He forever made it real,

His work a masterpiece.

In winter’s cruelest grip,

I can always get away.

Seurat’s work transports me

To a lovely, summer day.