People

steal scenes. The sweeping green sward, the flock-
dotted forest, the far-distant steeple, and the steep
cliff of palette-knifed cumulonimbi ought to be enough,

but no, the Dutch master had to go rough in that
ruffian crossing the low plain at foreground, some
rustic swain wandering wayward with packs

into the frame from some bust claim and lit first
by the one plash of sunshine that crosses the canvas
and secondarily by LED, low-UV, infrared

lights twisted into the overhead tracks. Where’s he
from, what’s his mission, why’s he here on this floor
in this particular exhibition? Someone should know,

but we’d best not oust the oldster from his reverie
on the gallery’s only bench. And the guard by the door
will just flinch and shrug. Here’s a docent,

but her nose is in the air and she doesn’t dare
stoop before her troop to utter anything but French.
Museumgoers are such a curious bunch. This prude’s

avoiding the marble nudes by striking evasive attitudes.
This man might be fixing to stay. Here, children fan sketch-
books in a scatter of colored waxes out upon the oak

parquet. In front of a torrid, tragic depiction of myth,
a couple’s entwined such that all are reminded
of the magic of loving the one you’re with. She keeps

locked her hands on the hands he’s docked deep in her
jean jacket pockets. Her head’s on his chest. On her
crown rests his chin. And from his black belt hangs

a silver chain down in a loop gone stone still. They’re
frozen in space. Don’t look now — but, before you go,
do notice the grin the artist has chosen to set off her face.

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Todd Boss’s four poetry collections are from W. W. Norton. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, American Poetry Review, Poetry, and Best American Poetry. His children’s book, The Boy Who Said Wow (Beach Lane, 2024) is in three languages. He hosts the podcast “There’s a Poem in That,” on which he writes healing poems for total strangers. As co-founder of Motionpoems, he has produced 150+ poetry films. He’s contributed librettos and films to EMMY-winning and GRAMMY-nominated projects. He’s currently working on three novels, a nonfiction project, a choral operetta, and a screenplay. A complete portfolio is at toddbossoriginals.com.