Art as an Escape
Robert Hayden: On Claude Monet, Water Lilies (1906)
Monet's Waterlilies
Today as the news from Selma and Saigon
poisons the air like fallout,
I come again to see
the serene, great picture that I love.
Here space and time exist in light
the eye like the eye of faith believes.
The seen, the known
dissolve in iridescence, become
illusive flesh of light
that was not, was, forever is.
O light beheld as through refracting tears.
Here is the aura of that world
each of us has lost.
Here is the shadow of its joy.
Robert Hayden's poem, 'Monet's Waterlilies,' is a contemplative poem that juxtaposes the horrors of war with the serene beauty of Claude Monet’s painting “Waterlilies”. It’s an explicitly political poem, reflecting the social and historical context of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement.
It speaks about the transformative power of art, illustrating how it can offer solace and hope in times of loss and despair. Through the lens of Monet's painting, the author finds a sanctuary where he can momentarily escape the harsh realities of war and destruction in the soothing presence of his favourite artwork.
This poem affects many because they can relate to it. Whether it be a book, a piece of music, or a poem, everyone has a special place that they escape to whenever they just want a break from life.