Thursday 18 August 2011

1809 - Sketches of Spain

In 1809 the Peninsular
War was dragging on, bloody and costly
In lives. The Spanish and Portuguese were
Treated by Napoleon's well-trained army
Brutally, and for what? Was it glory
Or greed on France's part? Madrid had fought
Back the year before, the Second of May
Rising being famously, movingly caught
In Goya's painting. Other sketches might
Also have been imagined from that war
Producing many monstrous shadowy
Charcoal images I studied when brought
Last year to Manchester..... Saragossa
Corunna, Porto, Talavera ... Cry!

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