Don't Let that Horse

Don't let that horse
eat that violin

cried Chagall's mother

But he

kept right on
painting

And became famous

And kept on painting

The Horse With Violin In Mouth

And when he finally finished it
he jumped up upon the horse

and rode away

waving the violin

And then with a low bow gave it
to the first naked nude he ran across

And there were no strings

attached

LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI