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| attributed to Nicolaes Berchem Study for garland with coats-of-arms and cherubs before 1683 drawing Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Nicolaes Berchem Venus, Adonis, and Cupid 1648 drawing Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
from Venus and Adonis
'Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel?
Nay, more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth:
Art thou a woman's son, and canst not feel
What 'tis to love? how want of love tormenteth?
O! had thy mother borne so hard a mind,
She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind.
'What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this?
Or what great danger dwells upon my suit?
What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss
Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute:
Give me one kiss, I'll give it thee again,
And one for interest if thou wilt have twain.
'Fie! lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone,
Well-painted idol, image dull and dead,
Statue contenting but the eye alone,
Thing like a man, but of no woman bred:
Thou art no man, though of a man's complexion,
For men will kiss even by their own direction.'
This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue,
And swelling passion doth provoke a pause;
Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong;
Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause:
And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak,
And now her sobs do her intendments break.
* * *
Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say?
Her words are done, her woes the more increasing;
The time is spent, her object will away,
And from her twining arms doth urge releasing:
'Pity,' she cries; 'some favour, some remorse!'
Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse.
– William Shakespeare (1593)
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| Jan de Bisschop Classical relief with four male profiles before 1671 drawing Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Jan de Bisschop Study of drapery before 1665 drawing Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Jan de Bisschop Sculpture group in the gardens of Honselaarsdijk Castle near The Hague before 1671 drawing Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Jan de Bisschop Witch riding through the air on a dragon which holds an open book in its mouth before 1671 drawing British Museum |
from Water-Witch, Wood-Witch, Wine-Witch
And when she came out it was raining, the night itself
Wanted to touch her, a silver stillness
Stood waiting, she was wet all through
Like a willow in the garden, wet apron
Shivering on an abyss. "What is death,"
She quipped, "but a lack of talent?" and spat at the rosebud.
"You are but breathing dust, and, look, you know
The language we call 'Crossing the River', do you speak
The older tongue called 'Wallow'? – watch the fish!"
And then the swans
Stabbed that wriggling porridge with their beaks.
She stabbed the oak once. It tore like grating silk.
– Peter Redgrove (1968)
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| Johannes Lingelbach Studies of Eastern figures ca. 1644-74 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
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| attributed to Johannes Lingelbach Embarkation of Charles II at Scheveningen (returning to claim the British throne) ca. 1660 drawing (study for painting) Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Adam Pynacker Study of trees in a wood before 1673 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
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| Adam Pynacker Study of trees in a wood before 1673 drawing Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge |
from The Laurel Tree
One of the local philosophers . . .
He says, "In California
We have the old anarchist tradition."
What can he mean? Is there an anarchist tradition?
And why would an anarchist want one?
O California,
Is there a tree without opinions?
Come, let me clasp you!
Let me feel the idea breathing.
– Louis Simpson (1964)
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| Willem van Nieulandt the Younger Ruin of Brederode Castle in the Netherlands ca. 1604-1635 drawing Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Willem van Nieulandt the Younger Christ and two disciples at Emmaus (from a set of Italian landscapes with Biblical scenes) before 1635 etching Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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| Willem van Nieulandt the Younger Christ in the desert, tempted by Satan (from a set of Italian landscapes with Biblical scenes) before 1635 etching Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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| Willem van Nieulandt the Younger Tobit and the Angel (from a set of Italian landscapes with Biblical scenes) before 1635 etching Philadelphia Museum of Art |
Poems from the archives of Poetry (Chicago)