A private man, he never talked or wrote
About himself, just his experiences.
A quiet man, he lived as far remote
As he could be, away from all pretenses.

He travelled far from home, from Springfield, in New England;
First to New York’s Art Students League and then to work;
To England, France, to Panama, to San Francisco;
Japan, Hong Kong, Canton, Constantinople, Paris;
As quartermaster on a little Mejicano steamer
That plied the coast and through the Panama Canal;
To Maine, to Santa Fe and Taos, to Europe, once more Paris;
Then back to New York State, New England and New Brunswick;
And then a major stay in Mexico, in Taxco:
In Mexico he learned the art of fresco painting;
Back in the USA, he toured the South -- Virginia,
Kentucky, Alabama, Lou’siana -- and in Texas;
Then settled (with his wife) in Ranchos -- part of Taos.
All this through 1939! He lived to 1980!

And everywhere he stopped or stayed or lived,
He drew or carved or etched or painted all
He could which lay before him. And he sieved
His wealth of sketches, studies, large and small,

For ev’ry worthwhile image he could use;
More than a lifetime of ideas and inspiration.
He never had to teach, nor to excuse
His rich life, despite hardship and privation.

A humble man, he earned his living from his Muse,
A choice which many artists would have liked the chance to choose.

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

[Written Novemmber 16-17, 2006.]