Turner’s time

Origins
Origins, John Lyons (oil on canvas)

Turner’s time

Time of itself
           no significant changes
my time is not your time
           we each carry our own load
I could even say lode
           Time and what you make of it
the wish to change
           and the will to change
the energies that we apply
           to the process of change
or stasis
           and time-resistance
no wish and no will
           to change and each year
as the year before
           and life a constant
duplication of the previous
           or do I repeat myself
the steps we take
           that you and I take
to renew and refresh
           to break through
the time-barrier
           Turner on Margate beach
sand under his feet
           sailed through time
applied fire to his canvas
           held eternity at bay
if only for a while
           all for his art

John Lyons

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View from the Turner Museum, Margate

Turner Contemporary
The Turner Contemporary gallery, Margate

View from the Turner Gallery, Margate

How light the liquid light
          lies upon the sea
as the sun sets
          the silver shimmer
of tiny waves that roll in
          from the distant horizon
candescent curls
          that ferry brilliance
to the shore : calm now
          on this end of summer
afternoon with contentment
          settled among the families
at play on the beach
          fine dry sand underfoot
and a rising tide and a waning
          moon in the wings

Here Turner knew
          tempestuous times
when ships were lost
          with all souls drowned
: but there were days too
          when the placid waters
held his eye and he saw
          only peace and comfort
his heart awash
          with the beauty of it all

John Lyons


Visit the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm.