The Art Gallery
(c) Shelley Hansen 2015
Whenever I’m in Brisbane there’s a special place I go -
it’s nestled down on South Bank – and it’s free!
The Gallery where priceless masters grace the walls on show -
so come and take a guided tour with me …
Each painting has its history – a snapshot set in time -
and each one has a message to impart.
Botanic plates of native flowers – rare and quite sublime –
or brazen bursts of gaudy modern art.
The canvas panoramas stand on easels, hang on hooks -
fine miniatures, great oils, embroidered thread.
The calming open spaces intersperse with secret nooks
that showcase mounted sculptures – bronzed and dead!
Who knows what story lies behind a child with haunted eyes
who’s cradled by a mother clad in black?
I seem to hear the intermingled pathos of her sighs,
perhaps bereft of one not coming back.
I get the giggles at a one-eyed woman – quite surreal!
Wild music bursts in quavers from her mouth!
I see the tall ships plying salt and spray – I almost feel
the bold adventure of their journey south.
The one I love the best depicts a view of washing days –
the laundry maid toils faithfully. It seems
I feel her ache of longing as the window draws her gaze
as if she would escape to sweet old dreams.
When life is far too busy this becomes my secret ploy
to let the world go by, and to entrust
my thoughts to art ... then wander to the café to enjoy
fine coffee and a pie with ginger crust!
Or should that be peckish? 