Documenta 12, Take 1:

(With apologies to John Godfrey Saxe and the blind men of Indostan)

It was six fine folk of "the art press"
(Whose opinions we do read),
Went to Documenta
(Though none of them can see),
That each by observation
Might write quite pithily

The First approached the exhibit,
And happening to fall
Against a Persian rug that hung,
In Documenta-Halle:
Said, "This hodge-podge show

Is like a furry wall!"

The Second, at Romuald Hazoumé,
Cried, "Ho! what is this craft
So very round and smooth and sharp?
A work that makes me laugh!
His floating presentation,
Is very like a raft!"

The Third approached a collector,
And happening to take
His wrinkled neck within his hands,
Thus boldly up he spake:
"I see," quoth he, "Documenta
Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth saw reading materials
And feeling bored and mean,
Rolled his eyes and lollygagged
(For reading, he wasn't keen),
" 'Tis clear enough this exhibit
Is very like a 'zine!"

The Fifth, who faced the Fridericianum,
Betwixt a Joseph Beuys
Came upon a suitcase-gallery
With art the size of toys
This marvel of a free-for-all
Is like those Banksy ploys!

The Sixth, feeling much despair
Walked in a darkened room,
And tripping on guitars and wires,
He heard their drang und strum
"I hear," he said, "this arty fair,
Is very like a tune!'

And so these folk of the art press
Amid their four-town sprint,
Each baked their own opinion
Based on their Kassel stint,
So need you not think at all,
Just read their views in print!

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