On Seeing a Painting By Picasso

On Seeing a Painting by Picasso By Elton Camp The museum has a portrait by Picasso on display When I heard that, I knew had to go by that way I must admit that, a country hick like me Has few chances a real work of art to see The first painting I saw caused me to smile It obviously was the work of a little child A real talent for painting the child had not Yet the museum gave it a prominent spot In time the child might learn to draw When better examples of art it saw Now derisive laughter the kid might hear If it came to visit and was standing near I had to hope most folks won’t mind To a little one’s work to try to be kind An attempt to paint a woman it seemed to be But it certainly looked very strange to me One eye was looking over to her right While the other had a straight sight The nose was not located in between In the place of an ear it could be seen Mouth wasn’t at the center of her chin Way over toward the side it did begin The figure’s hair wasn’t up on the top Way down to the left side it did drop Her face was littered with weird designs Composed of many multiple colored lines I hoped nobody the child would ask If it was a horrid Halloween mask Of that painting I had quite enough I was ready to see the genuine stuff “Guard, where may the Picasso be found So I won’t have to hunt for it all around?” My question seemed the guard to confuse Or perhaps I should say it came to amuse His words to me were such a total surprise “That is it, right there before your eyes.”