take that, yelled Monet;
take that, Renoir said
calling it a day
take it away said Gauguin,
his nose rotting
they wiped his face, careful
not to smear his rage
with their famous oily rags
rowers pulled by, picnickers took up their food
a general commotion prevailed;
they went home satisfied we think,
but who can say?
art is a funny thing