Do Not Make Things Too Easy

Georges Seurat

Angelica Chained to a Rock

Do Not Make Things Too Easy

Do not make things too easy.

There are rocks and abysses in the mind

As well as meadows.

There are things knotty and hard: intractable.

Do not talk to me of love and understanding.

I am sick of blandishments.

I want the rock to be met by a rock.

If I am vile, and behave hideously,

Do not tell me it was just a misunderstanding.

~ Martha Baird ~

The Rules of Evidence

Georges Seurat

Pierrot With a White Pipe

The Rules of Evidence

What you want to say most

is inadmissible.

Say it anyway.

Say it again.

What they tell you is irrelevant

can’t be denied and will

eventually be heard.

Every question

is a leading question.

Ask it anyway, then expect

what you won’t get.

There is no such thing

as the original

so you’ll have to make do

with a reasonable facsimile.

The history of the world

is hearsay. Hear it.

The whole truth

is unspeakable

and nothing but the truth

is a lie.

I swear this.

My oath is a kiss.

I swear

by everything

incredible.

~ Lee Robinson ~

I Care Not for These Ladies

Georges Seurat

Models

I Care Not for These Ladies

I care not for these ladies

That must be woo'd and pray'd

Give me sweet Amaryllis

The wanton country maid,

Nature Art disdaineth,

Her beauty is her own:

And when we court and kiss

She cries 'Forsooth, let go!'

But when we come where comfort is

She never will say no.

If I love Amaryllis

She brings me fruit and flowers

But if we love these ladies

We must bring golden showers

Give them gold that sell love

Give me the nut-brown lass

And when we court and kiss

She cries 'Forsooth, let go!'

But when we come where comfort is

She never will say no.

These ladies must have pillows

And beds by strangers wrought

Give me a bow'r of willows

Of moss and leaves unbought,

And fresh Amaryllis

On milk and honey fed,

And when we court and kiss

She cries 'Forsooth, let go!'

But when we come where comfort is

She never will say no.

~ Thomas Campion ~