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| Unknown Artist Bell Jar with Wax Fruit and Dessert Arrangement ca. 1860-80 wax, paraffin, tempera, glass Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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| René Lalique Necklace ca. 1897-99 enameled-gold, opals, amethysts Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| John La Farge Vase of Flowers 1864 oil on gilded panel Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| John La Farge Firescreen 1884 leaded opalescent glass and brass Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Gradus Ad Parnassum
Oh I know
If I'd practiced the piano
I'd never be so low
As I now am
Where's Sylvia Beerman?
Married, rich and cool
In New Rochelle
She was nobody's fool,
She didn't write in verse
She hardly wrote at all
She rose she didn't fall
She never gave a damn
But got up early
To practice Gradus
Ad Parnassum – she
Feels fine. I know.
– Muriel Rukeyser, from Breaking Open (Random House, 1973)
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| John La Farge Wild Roses in an Antique Chinese Bowl 1880 watercolor Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Martin Johnson Heade Lotus Blossom ca. 1885-1900 oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Martin Johnson Heade Magnolias ca. 1883-1900 oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Martin Johnson Heade Hummingbird and Apple Blossoms 1875 oil on canvas Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| John Frederick Peto The Old Cremona ca. 1887-90 oil on canvas Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
XIV
So I became very dark very large
a silent woman this time given to speech
a woman of the river of that song
and on the beach of the world in storm given
in long lightning seeing the rhyming of those scenes
that make our lives.
Anne Sexton the poet saying
ten days ago to that receptive friend,
the friend of the hand-held camera:
"Muriel is serene."
Am I that in their sight?
Word comes today of Anne's
of Anne's long-approaching
of Anne's over-riding over-falling
suicide. Speak for sing for pray for
everyone in solitary
every living life.
– Muriel Rukeyser, from The Gates (McGraw-Hill, 1976)
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| John Haberle The Slate ca. 1895 oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| John Haberle A Bachelor's Drawer ca. 1890-94 oil on canvas Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| John Frederick Peto Office Board 1885 oil on canvas Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| John Frederick Peto Student's Materials ca. 1890-1900 oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| John Frederick Peto The Poor Man's Store 1885 oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |