Look – and decide for yourself
What you’re seeing:
Write and don’t worry
That they’ll judge.
The opinion of others
Is theirs alone
(And mine is
just more of the sludge).

Look – and decide for yourself
What you’re seeing:
Take it all in
At a rush.
Or savour it slowly.
Draw it on paper;
Splash it about
With a brush.

Look – and decide for yourself
What you’re seeing:
Ignore the turn
Of the screw.
When all’s said,
Done and written:
Be true to yourself.
This is YOU.

Inspired by a comment by Christopher Lloyd
“Look and decide for yourself what you’re seeing”.
Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs
17-11-2017 with Anna Pavord.

Helen Finnie
17th November 2017