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To a Painter in England (for Harold Simmons) Lyrics by Derek Walcott

Hunter Caribbean Lit

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Where you rot under the strict, grey industry
Of cities of fog and winter fevers, I
Send this to remind you of personal islands
For which Gauguins sicken, and to explain
How I have grown to learn your passionate
Talent with its wild love of landscape
It is April and already no doubt for you,
As the journals report, the prologues of spring
Appear behind the rails of city parks,
Or the late springtime must be publishing
Pink apologies along the wet, black branch
To men in overcoats, who will conceal
The lines of songs leaping behind their pipes.
And you may find it difficult to imagine
This April as a season where the tide burns
Black, leaves crack into ashes from the drought,
A dull red burning, like heart's desolation.
The roads are white with dust and the leaves
Of the trees have a nervous, spinsterish quiet.
And walking under the trees today I saw
The canoes that are marked with comic names;
Daylight, St Mary Magdalen, Gay Girl.
They made me think of your chief scenes for painting
Of days of instruction at the soft villa,
When we watched your serious experience, learning.
So you will understand how I feel lost
To see our gift wasting before the season,
you who defined with an imperious palette
The several postures of this virginal island,
You understand how I am lost to have
Your brush's zeal and not to be explicit.
But the grace we avoid, that gives us vision,
Discloses around corners an architecture whose
Sabbath logic we can take or refuse;
And leaves to the single soul its own decision
After landscapes, palms, cathedrals or the hermit-thrush,
That would inform the blind world of its flesh.
Credits
Derek Walcott

Derek Walcott

About “To a Painter in England (for Harold Simmons)” by Derek Walcott

Read the complete lyrics to "To a Painter in England (for Harold Simmons)" by Derek Walcott from the album "Hunter Caribbean Lit". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"To a Painter in England (for Harold Simmons)" is performed by Derek Walcott. from the album "Hunter Caribbean Lit" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "To a Painter in England (for Harold Simmons)", explore more songs by Derek Walcott using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"To a Painter in England (for Harold Simmons)" is credited to Derek Walcott. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"To a Painter in England (for Harold Simmons)" appears on "Hunter Caribbean Lit".

Visit the Derek Walcott artist page at /artist/derek-walcott for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.