Parasol
ON SEEING MONET'S WOMAN WITH A PARASOL
She’s open-eyed, like any wild
animal that's over-constrained or riled
but not showing any teeth –
she is, after all, Victorian, complete
down to the parasol she carries outside
into the dangerous light,
the sun being a source of some distress
and the wind in her dress
like hot hounds nipping, and a hill
to overcome before she’s home – still
you stare at her bright center, so
strange and generous, so
unguarded and surrendering.
 
8x8, oil on 1.5in cradled board,
wired, ready to hang