photo by Datuna, still life painting by Eckhout ‘Elusive Illusive Art’ and Other Poetry by Mike Ruskovich The Society January 16, 2025 Art, Beauty, Poetry, Villanelle 1 Comment . Elusive Illusive Art Where are the pure, illusive works of artthat bubble upward from the deep unknown?Where in this world are worlds Art sets apart? Duct tape? A banana fresh from the cart?Renoir would recoil and Monet would moan.Where are the pure, illusive works of art? A gallery is now a shopping mart,and museums are artifice on loan.Where in this world are worlds Art sets apart, where being clever is not being smart,and wonder is created, not just grown?Where are the pure, illusive works of art for which the bidding cannot really start,since their value’s more than investors own?Where in this world are worlds Art sets apart with skill and will and hands that hold the heart?Where is the piece whose worth is off the chart?Where are the pure, illusive works of art?Where in this world are worlds Art sets apart? . . By the Wye Wordsworth by the Wye knew why__The river flows both ways;With a poet’s hungry mind and eye__He devoured those thoughtful daysSpent with his sister or alone__In the emerald shade of trees,By the abbey ruins of tumbled stone,And in the fresh wide-open breeze. I too have toured that lovely place__And watched that river flow,Met Wordsworth’s moments face-to-face__And also tried to knowWhat there is to know of life.I was not with my sister, though;__I was with my wife,Lost in the present of long ago. His words were worth so much to me__In my youthful hours of despairThat I vowed I would someday be__Walking with the poet there,Watching the Wye flow out to seaAnd then returning with the tide,Free-flowing and yet never free__Of the currents we all must ride. . . Mike Ruskovich lives in Grangeville, Idaho. He taught high school English for thirty-six years. He and his wife have four children. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: One Response Roy E. Peterson January 16, 2025 Art like poetry in the modern world has been degraded to accept even the worst of designs and concepts. Where indeed are those immortal works of art that we once knew? Oh yes, they are all locked up in museums or the homes of billionaires, while few if any produce such works in the modern world. I believe you are indeed walking with Wordsworth on the Wye in your beautiful poem, “By the Wye,” and he is enjoying your poem and company. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy E. Peterson January 16, 2025 Art like poetry in the modern world has been degraded to accept even the worst of designs and concepts. Where indeed are those immortal works of art that we once knew? Oh yes, they are all locked up in museums or the homes of billionaires, while few if any produce such works in the modern world. I believe you are indeed walking with Wordsworth on the Wye in your beautiful poem, “By the Wye,” and he is enjoying your poem and company. Reply