She drew me, I stepped into the gallery
and heard her call, at once ancient and so young,
meant for me, secrecy in each syllable,
every unheard sound
And how I heard and how I hurried to her,
and how my lean spirit ran ahead beguiled,
breathless, full of longing to be beside her
in divinity.
The goddess is caught a mere heartbeat or two
after stepping from her shell, born full woman,
innocently wise, eluding with her gaze,
some unasked question,
musing on a trifle, searching in her mind
for the omniscience of new goddess-hood,
revelling in her oceanic birthplace
and in the clear air.
Smiling at the pleasure she brings to the world
Naked, innocently pure womanliness
and those youthful hints of ripening to full
hardening nipples.
And what beauty in that rope of hair she dries
darkened copper long and tangled as seaweed
or as life itself. She squeezes salt water
like gentle tear-falls.
What strength, and yet such gentleness is here too.
And lastly why ignore her craft of lusting
she is the lady of sex, make no mistake –
and I stood in awe!
I would have stood for ever gazing at her
feeling the sea of desire rising in me
willing her to turn her soft eyes towards me
and speak words of love.
My chance had gone, and when I returned one day
her space was empty, I had lost a life’s love,
she had run from me and so I breathed no more
– sister, goddess, love!
Author notes
I first saw this picture in the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, and was absolutely staggered by it. Appropriately, for a woman writing about a picture of a woman, the verse form I am using is the Sapphic.
Written February 12th, 2006
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Thank you, Merc.
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excellent
Wonderful, Mairi, just a joy to read and ponder.
Mercury Rising -
Yes, Titian is the man - famous for painting women with that deep red hair! I often wonder who posed for this painting. Thanks for the kind comment, Cassandra. M.
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oh my gosh...that painting...it's breathtaking. i love how the painting almost gives her a masculinity, or innocence because of the few womanly curves she has. well, she does have curves, but her beauty is different from something people would consider beautiful today.
i...wow...and your poem..it was lovely! who painted this if you know by any chance? because i haven't a clue, although it looks strangely familiar...hmm..
i found the poem interesting, that it contained so much about your love for the piece of art. it's something different, compared to the few i have read so far. some have put in their personal feelings and thoughts into thier poetry, but this was solely about your relationship with the artwork. i like that.
you're imagery was fantastic; i could see and feel all that you were feeling from what you described, from you first spotting the painting to you discovering it to be gone from the gallery. it was delicious imagery...yummy!
thanks for entering my contest, and i'm wishing you the best of luck!!
have a happy valentine's day and i send you much love ¢¾ ¢¾
peace
cassandra
ah...a P.S. i think i just figured out the artist. titian, am i right? i should have paid attention to the title
Edited on Feb 14, 7:14 p.m. because ''. -
Oh no no no, Melodies - never say anything like that? Why do you think I have you on my favourites list? It's because I value you as a poet. But anyhow, thank you so much for the lovely compliment. I hardly feel I deserve the praise. Perhaps we are both too modest.
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This one gives me chills. The picture and poem take the reader right to the place where you first saw her. What a lovely woman and what a fine poet you are to describe this so well. I shall never be a poet like you and I am honored to know you through your works.
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You would love to have a wander around the National Gallery in Edinburgh then - well for all I know you might have done so. Thanks for visiting, and for taking the time to comment.
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im a huge fan of victorian art work and your poetry compliments it perfectly. its eloquent and soft and wanting.
how beautiful is this sadness that my world is not small enough.
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