The Crucifixions of Frederic Marés
By
Charles Stirton
frozen tableau of the night
is Marés’ catalogue of Catalunya,
all gathered in silent rows of forgotten stares,
while outside,
Clivia, the shy orange of the forest
in Gothic view is seen, but not.
Metalled fish lie sheltered like cattle in their stalls,
their tails in an arc’d moon displayed,
while Buddha’s tree flicks it leaves
on’t the cobbl’d path below.
Sweet citrus wafts across the steam
from Café d’ Estiou,
where clinks of spoons cry
testimony to the nails on the Sacred Crosses
which hang sadly in tunnelled ranks,
with their muted mothers,
some with orbs, some without,
all beetle-drilled, with child in tow.
Frederic’s watchers drift silently among the scattered pilgrims,
along the narrow halls,
like the Koi and Citrus,
sometimes there, sometimes not.
Memories of a thousand church bells and hymns
peal silently from every cranny,
silently waiting their ringers and singers.
And there She is, in the farthest room,
the Black Madonna of Monsterrat.
She hangs alone, for whom no bells toll,
as Pagans flock to Gaia hid within
the mountain resplendent behind her.
Through the window in this upper room
is seen a distant clown in Venetian pose,
standing golden silent beneath the Gothic spires.
Ignored he is, by the human flow,
just like the Crucifixion crosses of Frederic Marés,
Son of Catalunya,
Collector rare of Cathar fare.
I wrote this poem while visiting the Frederic Marés Museum next to the old Gothic Cathedral in Barcelona. Spain. I took pictures of all the various elements which inspired the poem, except for those which I was forbidden to photograph by the Museum guards (watchers).
I hope you enjoy this poem in construction. I revise it from time to time.
I have been waiting for an occasion to upload the poem and pictures and today CELEBRATE my new SEVEN AVATAR with it.
1. Clivia, the shy orange of the forest
2. in Gothic view is seen, but not.
3. Close-up of a Clivia flower, orginally from South Africa.
4. Metalled fish lie sheltered like cattle in their stalls
5. their tails in an arc’d moon displayed,
6. Sweet citrus wafts across the steam
7. View opposte the Balck Madonna
8. while Buddha’s tree flicks it leaves
9. is seen a distant clown in Venetian pose,
10. Ignored he is, by the human flow,
11. standing golden silent beneath the Gothic spires.
12. Frederic Marés, Collector rare of Cathar fare
Very nice!