Poetry and Painting

I kicked off my official sabbatical with a day trip to the De Young Museum and the Palace of the Legion of Honor: both wonderful art museums in San Francisco.  While at the Legion of Honor I came across William Bougeureau's painting titled Broken Pitcher (1891) (Scroll down and see the painting below).  I was very drawn to the peasant girl in the painting and wondered what might be going on in her life and head that would make her sit there, broken pitcher at her feet, without moving to fix things, to solve her dilemma. I wondered if perhaps she sat there musing over a problem that had no ready answer....

Can't go home without the water.

There, in fits, sleeps red-eyed father.

Vacant mother sent her fetching

with a pitcher cracked all round,

bound to break.  Her bare feet catching,

pitcher swiping rocky ground.

Can't go home without the water.

Without water can't go home.

Better here awhile, alone.

No plan now. None there to be--

with red-eyes veined from last night's batter,

mother bruised, used up.  All these

mines await her barefoot patter.

Without water can't go home.

Without water, daughter, dare you go?

Save her!  Save her, won't you, Bouguereau?

Place her safely on your canvas

covering her in oils so father's

eyes won't waken mother's antics

when she comes home without water,

without water. Daughter, dare you go?