'I like his still life,
Its tone.
His self-portraits are not half bad.
But of course they're not a bit like him.
Actually he is awfully good-looking.
He has got beautiful hair, natural colour
Which does not show up in the portraits.
I like that one of himself standing at the end of the bed.
His slipover really looks like a slipover, doesn't it?
You can see it is made from wool, can't you?
I knitted it the Easter before last.
But I like his still life.
Another one of himself. I don't like him in that.
I know that smile.
It is so typical of him -having put a plate on the floor.
He's always doing that. Putting his empty dinner plate
Down on the floor beside the leg of his chair.
Knife and folk neatly laid back down as always.
Are we ready for the off?
This is my first time seeing his pictures.
I cannot get into his studio, there are steps up to it.
I'd like to have one more look at his still life.'

Sucking in her jowls, she rests her hands on her wheel rims,
Staring up at a still life of a fish gleaming from a dish.

Paul Durcan.