The Ultimate Painting – Study for Portrait VII (Francis Bacon)
A found poem using the text describing Study for Portrait VII on moma.org
Seated on a throne-like gilded chair
He endeavoured
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
to make the best painting
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
of a human cry
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
calm expression
relatively calm expression
relatively calm expression transforms
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
transforms into
transforms into a
transforms into a convulsive
transforms into a convulsive scream
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
He often used
He often used imagery
He often used imagery to
He often used imagery to address
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
to address themes
of suffering
themes of suffering
themes of suffering and
e x i s t e n t i a l t o r m e n t
coming to terms with the
the vi o lence and aftereffects
of the war
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
I would like someday
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
to trap a moment of life
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
in its full violence
The image of open mouthed terror is a recurring motif in his work
its full beauty
The image of open mouthed terror
Elizabeth McGeown is a Pushcart-nominated poet from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is the current UK Slam Champion has work published or forthcoming in journals including Banshee and Under the Radar. Her first collection will be published by Verve in 2022. Find her on her website.