vignette

If I was around when Chardin was around

and he was a friend of mine and I walked into the room

where he was painting a new one I might’ve advised him

not to paint that slab of raw salmon, but maybe paint

a nice plump pear instead. or a cabbage.

I know. I know. every tom-dick-n’ harry was painting

pears and apples and bananas on a table where the fruit bowl sat.

but later, that slab of raw, bloody salmon

was frying in a pan, snapping and sizzling in a bed

of olive oil, (if olive oil is what was used back then)

a clove of garlic, a pinch of salt & pepper, and a drizzle of fresh lemon..

ah..anyway, better to keep my advice to myself is what I do now.