it took a fortnight to complete the painting
each morning I sat behind the glade, dreaming
as I watched her come and feel the sun
a woman whose beauty blew me as a gun  
her smiles soft and golden as sunlight

how was the sun to be placed on canvass
and the sea in paint against the compass;
so inserted the garden’s flowers magnificent 
and perfume and splendor  loud but reticent
in this difficult labour of love quiet as light 

when i delivered the unsolicited portrait
she was away, her guard and maid at any rate 
looked startled and flattened by the gold
that gleamed from the silver frame and fold

i declined waiting and left the shelf
but faded into the dell to hang myself