Pantoum Written After A Visit To Tate Modern Poem by Paul Hansford

All of these were at the Tate;
I know they were, for I took notes.
The plaster cast of an empty space;
View of the Thames, with Pleasure Boats.

I know they were (for I took notes)
on open view, but Art? Well, maybe.
View of the Thames, with Pleasure Boats;
Mother Feeding Crying Baby

on open view, but Art? Well, maybe,
- unless they take me for a fool.
Mother Feeding Crying Baby;
Man in Orange Shirt, on Stool.

- Unless they take me for a fool,
Damien Hirst and Jackson Pollock.
Man in Orange Shirt, on Stool,
saying, “What a load of bollocks! ”

Damien Hirst and Jackson Pollock;
Couple Drinking at a Bar,
saying, “What a load of bollocks,
“A plywood model of a car! ”

Couple Drinking at a Bar;
Monet’s Waterlilies, and
a plywood model of a car;
fruit decaying on a stand.

Monet’s Waterlilies, and
People on an Escalator;
fruit decaying on a stand.
No, skip that one, we’ll come back later.

People on an Escalator;
a film of two men standing still.
No, skip that one; we’ll come back later.
I’m certain that they’ll be there still.

A film of two men standing still;
the plaster cast of an empty space;
I’m certain that they’ll be there still.
All of these were at the Tate.