Ney

He is almost 70
Having taken his
College classes each
Semester for the last 46
Years to see the Ney Museum
The home of Elizabeth Ney who
Was a woman a century ahead of
Her time and the foremost Texas
Sculptor in 1900 in Austin where
She lived and worked too good
A role model not to use in an
American history class so
Bereft of heroines up close.
My students gaze at her
Works and how marble
Moves when properly
Shaped by a woman
Who was uniquely
Unconventional
Keeping her
Maiden
Name,
Ignoring
Visitors who
Had no money,
Having failed
As a mother
But won
Fame
As a
Sculptor
Whose art
Adorns the Texas
Capitol but whose
Youngest son’s
Alcoholism
Caused
The
Ney Museum
To be created
By her lady friends
To preserve her
Sculptures.
After an hour,
He gathers the
Uneaten cookies
And extra ice tea he
Has used to entice,
Put into his car as
A few students
Lost to find a
Way back to
ACC beg a
Ride
Home.
All part
Of the miracle
Of teaching.
Some will
Share
The
Ney experience
With friends and
Family which
Makes the
Bother
Worthwhile
Despite, sorry,
The Ney
Sayers.