"The Minority is Always Right," Henrik Ibsen

Painting by Eilif Peterssen 1895


"The Minority is Always Right," Henrik Ibsen


Atmospheric torrents jagged
the candle’s flames,
Candles whose wax were dyed a pink
To match the color of a Fragonard dress
Being swung over roses toward a steeple.
The swinger wore white gloves
Stitched with a fleur de lis.

The script we scribbled in our heads had
A rococo setting, although the flower pot
Attached to our window had chunks
Of glazed ice from sleet
on its peat and sphagnum.
Geraniums had become syncopation.
We were absolved from absolutes
by a misread Summa.

Perils were imperial, walked with a tremble,
But the evening still had
the elegant zigzags
Of curled wood pared from a cedar pencil.


Duane Locke

Posted over on Ken Again