Outside the Hermitage~ (memoir from April, 1974 )

outside the hermitage the river looked as if it had been blessed with tiny points of light, chiseled like perfectly asymmetrical diamonds, drifting down the russian river
all those who would stop to gaze could not help but be carried along, the murky gray green sheen of our heritage- home

russian river resounds by the museum, home to several impressionistic paintings- before the century turned itself on its own head, when the purveying of paintings was a craft- values of light blessings, sacraments made sacred by a demure smile in the dark red square-- sequenced by black birds against an opaque creme sky--where secret languages had been revealed- warm hats secured for a stroll around the museum mid-day
amidst the sun, a quick spiraling snow white surprises strollers in large shreds- a black and white speckling ...white pieces of dry light snow, melting on black hats, and childrens' mittens, children lined up obediently for the school bus, parked in between the lines, this mid- april afternoon
~kate lamberg (c) '18