Magpie Tales 94– Lunch Counter Painting (Reproduced and Poeticized)
I am posting this (fresh off the brain and iPad 2) for Tess Kincaid’s Magpie Tales 94. Tess gives a weekly pictorial prompt; this week is a wonderful painting by George Tooker called Lunch, exhibited at the Columbus Museum of Art. (The above is my personal reproduction, which I’ve put up just because I enjoy doing my own and can fit it more to my own post. The beautiful original can be seen at Magpie Tales.)
1960‘s Lunch Painting (George Tooker)
Hunched over lunch
as square as
white bread on
processed cheese, each
in a napkin of his/her own–suit
jacket, collar, sleeves–but
what lurks in the hearts
of the beige people?
My guess–everything.
Don’t discount the
counter, fail to read
between the forehead
lines–rainbows
found even in the surface of
coffee regular; a darker face
sandwiched in, intent on the
same meal, not
alien, not, at least,
in this picture, a
painting.
PS- Please please please for Christmas and any purchasing period, check out my new comic teen mystery novel, called NOSE DIVE, on Amazon, written by Karin Gustafson, wonderfully illustrated by Jonathan Segal, available in print and soon on Kindle (for just 99 cents!) Also check out my poems, Going on Somewhere (illustrated by Diana Barco, cover by Jason Martin) and children’s picture book, 1 Mississippi (pictures and words by me. A great book if you like counting and elephants.)
Explore posts in the same categories: iPad art, poetry, UncategorizedTags: 60s lunch counter poem, George Tooker, George Tooker re-painted and poeticized, iPad art, Magpie Tales, manicddaily
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ManicDDaily 
December 4, 2011 at 10:09 am
What lurks in the hearts of the beige people . . . that is absolutely brilliant!
December 4, 2011 at 10:15 am
I’m particularly struck by “Don’t…fail to read between the forehead lines…” To me that is the key to the beginning and end of this excellent poem!
Rick
December 4, 2011 at 11:00 am
we do need to read between forehead. sharp imagery,
you are quite creative on it.
🙂
December 4, 2011 at 12:09 pm
I like your beige people better than the originals! LOL
December 4, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I caught the beige people too and have indeed learned that the interior of people is much larger than seems possible sometimes when you look from the outside.
December 4, 2011 at 3:14 pm
I love your line ‘what lurks in the hearts of the beige people’. In the rat race of life we must see the real people.
December 4, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Beige people…absolutely…nice write…
December 4, 2011 at 6:02 pm
rainbows found in the coffee regular…nice….everyone blanding in but underneath all unique but at the same time similar as well…
December 5, 2011 at 4:31 am
Wonderful imagery!
December 5, 2011 at 7:34 am
Made me think and interpret on my own… Love it!
JJRod’z
December 5, 2011 at 7:00 pm
So very creative and crafted to perfection!
December 5, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Thanks!
December 6, 2011 at 1:14 am
I love how you look into the heart of the beige people, and not their boring sameness and dull or lack of expression
December 6, 2011 at 3:39 am
Perfect interpretation – so much hidden below the surface of those suits.
Anna :o]
December 7, 2011 at 4:29 am
The question with which the first stanza ends was key for me. Your poem opens up the imagination of the reader. fine work.
December 7, 2011 at 11:28 am
what lurks in the hearts
of the beige people?
Awesome question!
December 7, 2011 at 4:47 pm
fail to read
between the forehead
lines
Mmm…nice thought…
December 10, 2011 at 11:40 am
fine response to the prompt – good luck with your sales!