Margaret Olley, 1980, oil on board, 76.5 × 101.5 cm
A blue sky canvas frames a couple of vases,
a couple of bowls, and the fifth wheel:
a small plate crossed diagonally
by a tool in repose. The vases flourish
with scarlet proteas and sea green bract. The bowls –
one a green banana boat swept up at the sides
as if by Snow White’s housekeeping birds,
the other snow white with a cool mint stripe –
hold snooker ball apples, shiny as eyeballs,
four symmetric and forming a four-leaf clover.
The plate is empty and small. Was it used
for buttering at ten to four?
Or cued
for paring fruit at twenty past ten?
Like Meanjin?
Follow us for more:
