Kit Kelen - #30 - Ekphrastics - in the Prado - Goya's 'Perro Semihundido'/'Drowning Dog'

Goya's 'Perro Semihundido'/'Drowning Dog'

this painting has many names

none of them given by Goya

let's say though that the dog is to drown

for the sake of not argument

to be drowned in strong sunshine

of a darkness – gold

but that nose is not yet under

not all these years will drown the dog

eyes must grieve for something gone

belonging to the one that's loved

the sky is gold

the water gold

she would be apt to any task

swim any given sea

if we only knew a name to call

there's something still to be retrieved