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Lilias Trotter
(born in London, 1853–1928)
Lilias, Lilias, as she smiled
even the roots of her teeth turned seven colors
and her purplish heart
made her walk barefoot
among gardens observing
that all exists through a certain spectre
when she picked up free-hand
the laws of lines, colours and shapes
incising golden cuts on the canvas’ wrists
when in Venice she met a great painter
John Ruskin
intoxicated on her genius
(having observed it)
so one day he took his best brush
and offered it over her name – Lilias
you are a long-haired dame of paintings
princess of lines and the color of your time
no matter how restless
no matter how hungry, she kept on
walking bare-headed through alleys and gardens
only to stumble on a colorless, thorny crown,
eternal helmet of salvation,