An epitome, an icon, a tragedy with thick lashes,
Coated in polymer resin, her matte eyes conceal her story,
Burdened with sacred bullet holes through her stretched canvas.
The muse of ironic commentaries on modern society,
Reduced to a cheap commodity of the damned and the beautiful,
Painting her the Madonna of the flashbulbs and infidelities.
The banality of the mass media sequenced in her gaze,
As impersonal as the Virgin of icons,
Her heart was stolen like the millions of lovers long exhausted.
Silk screen enamel curled within her golden locks,
A haunting visage, a sequence of film stills.
Ms. Monroe, the American consumer product.
Matte painted eyes that wanted to be loved by you,
But diamonds lose their shine in absolution,
And gentleman prefer blondes from the assembly line.
Lips stained and printed to curve and tease the gentlemen,
Her smile would drive the masses wild in a fever,
As she is lowered into an earthern exhibit.
Six feet under, the front page deity of scandal,
Immortalized in acrylic and empathy,
Norma Jean.
Author notes
Inspired by "Shot Blue Marilyn" by Andy Warhol, 1964.
http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/en_easyart/lg/1/3/Shot-Blue-Marilyn--1964-Andy-Warhol-134271.jpg
A note about the 'Shot Marilyn' Art Prints: Andy Warhol’s studio 'The Factory' was always a hangout, particularly in the 1960’s and 70’s. In the 60’s visitors to The Factory included New York socialites, entertainers, artists, writers, drug addicts, hangers-on. In 1964, just as Warhol was completing a series of “Marilyn” canvases, Dorothy Podber (A speed freak and friend of Factory photographer, Billy Name) arrived at Warhol’s studio and upon seeing the freshly completed paintings asked Warhol if she could shoot them. Warhol, apparently not comprehending Podber’s meaning of the word “shoot” agreed, and Podber then pulled out a small revolver and fired a shot into a stack of “Marilyn” paintings. The surviving canvases were called the “Shot Marilyn” Paintings.
You will see that in the Warhol print “Shot Blue Marilyn” a spot appears on Marilyn’s forehead. The spot appears on the print, because it accurately reflects the actual canvas. As the publishers work closely with the Warhol Foundation on all reproductions of Andy Warhol’s work, they felt that it was important not to re-touch the spot because of the history surrounding the “Shot Marilyn” paintings.
A contest entry
- Jackson Pollock and others like him by whispernthedark.
645 points, ended February 9, 2008, 8 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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Much appreciated both the poet and the bit of history. And though I normally don't appreciate vivid backgrounds against white text (I see purple spots for minutes afterward) in this case the juxtaposition of poem, backgroung, and prompt-image is perfect. Congratulations on a well-handled entry.
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Well this is a truly wonderful poem. And thank you so much for the information in your notes, I hadn't heard this story. Not too long ago I did read about Valerie Solanis (I think) that shot Andy Warhol, and at first that's what I thought you were going to be talking about. Anyway, thank you for the link to the picture and this poem perfectly captures. Thank you for entering the contest, good luck.
♥
whisper
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