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DISTURBING THE ARTIST

(After watching some of 

the painting of The Hall 

of Illusion by Edward Povey)

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Disturbing the Artist: Project

You have been warned

Don’t talk to artist


don’t ask him where to 

begin or the names of 


those soldiers, you know 

never saw home again. 


Breathe quietly here 

behind him, hungry 


for any story that isn’t 

yours. Search for the


agony in faces you know 

will betray your form. 


Who isn’t drawn to fire? 


you ask the heartbeat 

in your womb, pouring


your life over his shoulder 

knowing he won’t look back.




(Previously published in Seventh Quarry Poetry Journal)

Disturbing the Artist: Text

Other poem from Ness Owen

Disturbing the Artist: Text
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