Still waters reflect tall buildings,
cool, dark shadows under bridges,
reversed graffiti from old walls.
There’s buddleia and willow herb,
moorhens and a heron fishing :
all of them in mirror image,
enlivening old watercourse.
To the side of the main channel
near a lock – quite unexpected –
is a pool of water lilies,
numbers doubled by reflections.
So exquisite in their setting –
walkers stop in admiration,
conversation turns to Monet’s
Giverny – his water garden
and Le Bassin Aux Nympheas…
When does art become investment?
Do some eyes behold just money?
Can it still be “truth is beauty”
and, for all, that “beauty’s truth?”
Here the sun still shines on water
highlighting these perfect lilies;
witness to Damascus moment
for a walker on the towpath,
pausing, on the way to Limehouse.
In June 2008, Claude Monet’s painting Le Bassin Aux Nympheas,
Was sold at auction in London for £41million.
Patrick Osada
Patrick B. Osada retired as Reviews Editor for SOUTH Poetry Magazine.
He has published eight collections. The Warfield Poems was launched in JULY 2024. Patrick’s work has been broadcast on national and local radio and widely published in magazines, anthologies and on the internet…
http://www.poetry-patrickosada.co.uk