The Human Touch

                          Jean-Francoise de le Motte; 1670

THE MAG

http://magpietales.blogspot.com.au/

supplied the illustration

THE HUMAN TOUCH

Three centuries have passed! Not much

When viewed in the light of the Human Touch.

In this picture we can see

Signs of our shared humanity.

I see drawing-pins and cords

To fasten things to wooden boards.

I have a cork-board; so do you.

Truly, there is nothing new!

Each letter, unpaid bill and note,

Each memo that the artist wrote,

Reveals a life quite like our own,

Barring Facebook and Telephone.

The painting..... I can't get a hint

Of whether it is just a print.

Prints? Are they modern? I don't know.

Did they have them all those years ago?

Note the ribbon decoration;

Was that part of a Christmas celebration?

Then there's the portrait, neatly framed. 

The subject of it isn't named.

Maybe it's the artist; there's a thought.

Or maybe it's just a sketch he bought.

The mask and ornament on display........

We collect such things today!

Then there's the tools of the painter's trade;

Neatly washed and neatly laid.

I feel I know Jean-Francoise well.

His painting has such a tale to tell.

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CONTINGENCY PLANNING

There's one thing everybody needs

And that's a contingency plan.

That goes for every woman

And every single man.

When you wake up in bed in the morning

Consider the possible traps;

You could miss the bus to work, maybe,

Or fall down the stairs, perhaps.

It pays to lie still in bed awhile

And work out a strategy

For coping with life's pitfalls,

A multiple Plan B.

Better plump up your pillows

In order to feel at ease,

For it's certainly exhausting,

Working-out your Plan Bs.

What to tell your boss today

When he sees that you are late;

And if you go drinking after work,

What to tell your mate.

Supposing there's an explosion

In the middle of the town!

You'd better work out the best way

Of keeping your head down!

You could, of course, avoid it all,

By curling up in bed

Or follow the illustration......

Put a bag over your head!

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