What Is Art Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

They often recommended it
the ones who get around
Oh, you must go 'cause it's so great
the best show in this town

So one hot Friday afternoon
I stumbled in that hall
deciding just to take a glimpse
excited not at all

Oh there were quite a few grand things
of chrome and mighty stones
some paintings were as large as rooms
and cunning cubes and cones

For our world has gotten big
our buildings oh, so tall
our art is surely 'cutting edge'
some buy and spend their all

Before I left this show of shows
I took a little peek
inside a fairly small side room
appearing modest meek

That's when my heart began to burn
as faces without guile
cried out from dusty centuries
Dark Ages and the Nile

The image of a pharaoh's face
stared up with kohl lined eyes
meant then to block the desert sun
now wrapped in cold disguise

My gaze next found a tiny face
in finest egg based paint
'twas Mary with a virgin smile -
Medieval glowing saint

When leaving that small musty den
I wandered in a park
and could not shed the memories
of eyes so old, so stark

Those ancients seemed to cry to me
they touched me to the core
their gazes piercing and still fresh
so urgently implored

I'll never know what happened there
in that small wayside room
yet all my erstwhile highflown thoughts
were swept with a new broom

The word called 'art' is oft explained
in long words and wise briefs
yet all my mind can comprehend
is love pain and belief

They often recommended it
the ones who get around
Oh, you must go 'cause it's so great
the best show in this town.