He looks into the mirror, sees himself,
And draws a weary face and weary soul.
We see that dazed and weary gaze itself.
It stirs our pain and lets us know his dole.

What contrast with that eager hopeful child
Who, with his brothers, pledged themselves to Art!
Yes, they were faithful, but the Fates were wild
That left them struggling, and kept them apart!

But Raphael persisted, and, in fact,
A painting sent to a salon inspired
The artist Alexander Brook to act
To build the recognition he required.

His art is not the art of happiness and fun.
It is the art of toil, despair, and fame hard won.

Copyright (2006) by Arnold Cantor.
All rights reserved.

[Written August 7, 2006. This is one of a few poems which are based
on an actual print of the artist, in this case a Soyer lithograph,
Self-Portrait.]
.