To Charles V. Bond, Esq.

There’s not a lot known about Charles V. Bond, neither who his father was, nor even his dates of birth and death.

This publication about American naive art lists his lifetime as around 1825 – 1864 or later (page 20). It seems Bond may have studied painting in Italy, and then dabbled around the U.S. – Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Louisville. After writing the poem, I was surprised to read this line: “that the artist lived in boarding houses in Milwaukee and elsewhere and moved frequently may mean that he was not married.” (page 21).

More of my poetry here. This is an epistolary poem. And how can you not look at these gorgeous pears in Bond’s painting without wanting to stew them?

Charles V. Bond *Still LIfe: Fruit, Bird and Dwarf Pear Tree*. 1856. Oil on canvas. Image in the public domain: Source

Thank you for your recent visit.
But what am I to make of your gift
of twenty-one peaches
seventeen pears, picked and hung
on a dwarf pear tree
a hundred or so raspberries
two hundred or so grapes
three roses, two fuchsias
and a hummingbird more
hummingbird in style
than in reality?
And those two white radishes
Charles? What of them?
Those symbols of emancipation.
What of them?
I hasten to return the compliment.
Yours,

Hello!

To Charles V. Bond, Esq. – A Poem