Ronald Peat, amerikansk konstnär och poet, föreslog mig en gång att skriva en dikt utifrån hans tavla i "grid" - ”Holstein Cow and Calf”.

Första och enda gången jag skrivit "på uppdrag". Resultatet ska inte uppfattas alltför seriöst och stilbrotten är givetvis avsiktliga.

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I´m studying a picture, it´s named “Cow and Calf”

a strange occupation, I act on behalf

of the artist who said: why don´t you write a poem?

so now I do my best to try to get to know them



a pastoral idyll this painting is to me

two beautiful creatures – an icon I see

will the artist agree or will he go wild

if I say the proper name is ‘Madonna and Child’



will I ever come close – it´s hard to tell

stand-offish they seem in the place where they dwell

it´s hard to communicate the mother with her baby

they focus their attention in the distance – but maybe…



… if I greet her with utmost courtesy and joy

and ask politely, if the calf is girl or boy

she seems to read my mind, she looks into my eyes

a thought runs through my head – she must be very wise



I cannot speak a word, she looks at me with patience

at last I mumble humbly to my brand new acquaintence:

I´m honored to meet you, my name is Mary-Anne

I want you to know, I´m a vegetarian