--BASIL--
WAIT ONE MOMENT
LET ME FINISH
JUST A TOUCH OR TWO
HERE AND THERE
WITH A BRUSH STROKE
OF A SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER HUE
YELLOW GREEN
PTHALO BLUE

THIS PICTURE IS THE CULMINATION
OF MY LIFE’S VOCATION
EMBODIED CURIOUSLY
SOMEWHAT MYSTERIOUSLY
IN THIS SINGLE WOODED FRAME
I DON’T KNOW IF I AIM TO SHOW IT
TO ANYONE BUT YOU

I certainly don’t require more fame. No, I can’t exhibit this, Henry. I’ve put so much of myself
in it that I can’t bear the thought of sharing it.

-HENRY-
So much of yourself? Basil, you look nothing like this new Adonis of yours.

-BASIL-
Of course I don’t. Nobody could match this young man’s classic features.

-HENRY-
I agree! So why shouldn’t the world see this marvelous picture?

-BASIL-
WAIT ONE MOMENT
JUST ONE MOMENT

-HENRY-
Basil?

-BASIL-
OH THAT’S DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN
EVERY PICTURE PAINTED
IS A PICTURE OF THE PAINTER
MORE THAN OF THE SUBJECT HE HAS PAINTED
DO YOU FOLLOW ME?

EVERY TIME I CHOOSE MY PALETTE
AS I WATCH THE FACE IN FRONT OF ME
AND TRY TO CAPTURE NOTHING ELSE
BUT JUST WHAT I SEE

NOTHING ELSE BUT SUNLIGHT
AND SHADOWS
ON THE FIGURE I’M PAINTING
IT’S A PARADOX
BUT IN EACH LINE AND BRUSH STROKE
BEYOND CONTROL I ALSO SEE
MY SOUL SET FREE

-HENRY-
Fascinating. Tell me more. For instance the name of your subject?

-BASIL-
Henry, you always get what you want, don’t you? Yes, I may as well tell you.

TWO MONTHS AGO I MET DORIAN GRAY

-HENRY-
Dorian Gray-

-BASIL-
CAN I DESCRIBE TO YOU
CAN I MAKE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY
AS WHEN I FIRST SAW DORIAN GRAY?

THERE WAS MAGIC THE MOMENT
HE WALKED IN THE ROOM
EVERY EYE WAS ON HIM
AND HE SEEMED TO PRESUME
WE’D BE DRAWN TO HIM
LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME AND THEIR DESTINY

AND THE BEST IN ME
WAS UNDER HIS POWER FROM OUR FIRST “HELLO”
BUT AN UNEASY FEELING CAME STEALING MY MIND
YES THIS FELLOW LED ME
TO AN AMAZING DISCOVERY

-HENRY-
Well, Basil, won’t you tell me?

-BASIL-
SOMEHOW THE SPIRIT
OF THIS STRIKING SOMEONE
WOULD SOON BE INSPIRING
THE BEST PORTRAIT I’VE EVER TRIED
JUST TAKE A LOOK
HAVE I LIED?

BUT EVERY PICTURE PAINTED
IS A PICTURE OF THE PAINTER
MORE THAN OF THE SUBJECT
HE HAS PAINTED

IT IS MY STRONGEST CONVICTION
IF I ALLOWED THE PUBLIC FREEDOM
TO STARE INTO HIS HAUNTING
AND MESMERIZING EYES
IT WOULD BE AS IF
THEY STOLE FROM ME
MY SOUL

IN A MOST UNUSUAL WAY
IN THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY