Gwyn Hanssen Pigott 1.1.1935 – 5.7.2013: after her work ‘Bright Shadow’, 2011
for best, it seems you have taken mother’s bowl

the one she keeps her olives in, the tall green vase

in plain alchemy white, given me by second son

when shadows fill cups and bowl and at times the light behind

a beaker stands at just right height, a clustered

symphony redrawn on tissue paper to lightly

weigh and turn
too easy, she demurs

to move still life, exhibit what is left

influences and dynasties, ceramic pots

and paintings, sculptures sotto breath

you tap a finer language, pots or shapes

unadorned perhaps but limitless to what

they can intelligently say, assortment spread

seemingly displayed as simple but there is
a common thread–

I can see mother would enjoy her wares

displayed just so before she too moves on, her gaze

distracted by another’s work falls low

and shadows fill her olive bowl

gallery-hung for all to measure light

when bowl empties at an alarming rate

when porcelain ties translucent night
that hangs there–

three dimensional jars and jugs

play music just like glass, clusters

viewed as if to channel light

sounds of awe soaring from her throat

connecting her to music that she thought lost

of another time