Poem by Majorie Mir in Honor of National Poetry Month: "The Artist Shen Chou is Dissatisfied"
April 16, 2025: In honor of national poetry month, MyhometownBronxville.com is featuring poems every week of April written by Bronxville poets. Below is a poem by Bronxville resident Majorie Mir.
THE ARTIST SHEN CHOU IS DISSATISFIED
I’ve not finished my book.
My spirit goes wandering in the sky.
Who can fathom it?
Inscription,“Reading in the Autumn,” Shen Chou, 1427-1509
As you see,
I have painted from far-off
the mountain-face, pine trees
clinging to its brow,
clouds below
and, smallest of all, a reader.
Were I to pluck all but one hair
from my brush,
I could not show you the words
he is reading
nor his conversation
with the book,
what thoughts have passed
between the two,
whether the place he has chosen,
mountain refuge, trees and clouds,
draws them together or apart.
No. For this there must be poetry.
Even then, how can I say
the sound of a leaf in mid-descent,
the breath between the cicada’s calls?
The reader might say,
“Put down your brush
as I have set aside my book.
Accept for now art’s limits;
yield instead to spirit,
the limitlessness of sky.”
.
Arts Directory
The Bronxville Public Library traces its origins back to 1875, when it was a small lending library housed in a room attached to the “Bronxville Model School.” The Library was officially chartered in 1906 and moved into the Village Hall Building. The needs of the library grew with the town and, in 1942, a new standalone building was erected, which is where the Library is today. Over the years, the Library was renovated and expanded to meet the needs of the community.
The Library has wonderful resources for adults and children and offers a comfortable and relaxing environment. The Library also houses a fine art collection, consisting principally of Bronxville painters and sculptors.
The Library offers special events, art exhibitions, and programs for adults, young adults and children. All events are open to the public, unless otherwise indicated.
The Bronxville Public Library
201 Pondfield Road (Midland Avenue & Pondfield Road)
914-337-7680
Concordia Conservatory, a preeminent center for music education in Westchester County, is a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music. Concordia Conservatory, a community outreach division of Concordia College, offers top quality music programs for early childhood, youth, adults and seniors. The Conservatory's vision is to enrich the lives of the people in our community through music.
Executive Director: Kathleen Suss
Concordia Conservatory of Music & Art
171 White Plains Rd
Bronxville, NY
914-395-4507
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