PAUL CEZANNE'S WALK
January 19th Birthday

Cezanne writes to his son: Obviously one must succeed in feeling for oneself and in expressing
oneself sufficiently.

In Provence Cezanne walks
out of the doors of bards
among her poets, troubadours
painting bathers, nudes
walking over rude white stones
when you will paint
men playing cards
dogs on all fours
for a rendezvous with Zola
who encourages you
in your assiduous endeavor
for a lively clever adventure
and academic critics say
about your art's flat surfaces
or your sensory perception
Cezanne remains serene
departing for Paris
cautious in raising doubt
in embarrassed receptions
without his art's showing
great wealth in its visitation
from many monetary purchases
as he captures "The Bathers"
in their censor's direction
by a visionary impression
living often in willing isolation
of a Sistine-like still life
knowing art lives on itself
by its own recreation.