A Kind of Cousin by Kate Foley

A Kind of Cousin
by Kate Foley

(After Michael Kelley’s “Animation 20, 2007” at the Stedelijk Museum)

 
a great deal of pacing
                                   if we are
to mutate into one work of art
regarding another we must do full-stops
as well as commas
                                     in front always in front
of the not-to-be-afraid-of-it
gaze?
             is that the right word?  of the artist

and I am so happy to be suddenly
mugged by a great fist of Karel Appel’s
colour and the clown faces speak quite tenderly to me
telling not to get above my station
or pretend to understand Barnet Newman

             elderly couples who know the steps
move a few of them at a time
on their afternoon Culture  and there is a special
tone of voice you must locate
if you wish to speak of

                        part of the music of turning into a pitch-
perfect reflection

             but haunting as a gull’s shadow

over the sky-light

                                      a child screams
all through

             unseen                       a thin scream

feral teeth in his calf

                                                      if this is art

I am its awkward cousin.