 | Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge |  |
98
AT THE PICTURE-GALLERY.
We went to see the pictures, Tom and I,
Because, in truth, we both are fond of art;
And then, besides—well, I will tell you why:
We wished to learn each painter's style by heart.
Because, in truth, we both are fond of art;
And then, besides—well, I will tell you why:
We wished to learn each painter's style by heart.
We lingered all the afternoon, we two—
It was so pleasant in the softened light.
Around and round we went, each gem to view,
And often almost knelt, for better sight.
It was so pleasant in the softened light.
Around and round we went, each gem to view,
And often almost knelt, for better sight.
Judging by haltings, and long, eager looks,
By rustling converse with our guide and friend,
The catalogue had seemed the book of books,
And life a stretch of paintings to the end.
By rustling converse with our guide and friend,
The catalogue had seemed the book of books,
And life a stretch of paintings to the end.
99
Picture by picture, page by page, we went,
Dubbed this one “perfect” and that other “poor.”
You never saw two critics so intent;
I don't know what folks thought of us, I'm sure.
Dubbed this one “perfect” and that other “poor.”
You never saw two critics so intent;
I don't know what folks thought of us, I'm sure.
Yet, do you know, some things drive others out:
If you had asked me ere another day
About the pictures on those walls, I doubt
If I had known a single word to say.
If you had asked me ere another day
About the pictures on those walls, I doubt
If I had known a single word to say.
In fact, that evening, in our homeward walk,
We settled much concerning Tom and me;
And not one word was said, in all our talk,
Of pictures or of painters—don't you see?
We settled much concerning Tom and me;
And not one word was said, in all our talk,
Of pictures or of painters—don't you see?
| Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge | |