The Swiss painter Emile Nolde*
used artistic licence 'til very old
Not of scenes too local
but in visions primitive&tropical
*https://www.wikiart.org/en/emil-nolde
The doorbell rings
“They’re early!” I shriek
As they enter the house
I’m starting to freak
A man in the wardrobe
His clothes in the hall
I’m starting to doubt
I’ll get away with it all
My lifestyle’s not suited
To family visits
My brass neck is shrinking
I can’t fool these twits
I’ve too many secrets
My head hangs in shame
I’m searching for someone
To take the blame
My artistic licence
Has just expired
So I call for the ‘butler’
And tell him he’s fired
Yes the visit was tense
But my parents admired
How I kept the pretence
To which they aspired
A
struggle-
to escape
the fetters of
life.
The
city
spoilt the view-
so he left it
out
Ekphrasis lanterne -Marinique Landscape by Paul Gaugin
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.