Buxom smile
in a diffident corset,
she sat for one
now stands for the mega-art-millioned.
More than a portrait,
Leonardo slipped a perverse lens,
a re-fractious looking glass,
into the centre of impossible scales.
Gioconda, coy grin on one still pan,
balancing a world agawk
swinging wildly on the other.
Leonardo: master optician, engineer,
prankster.
© Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow
* * *
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| Mona Lisa crowd — photo by Jack Holmes |
Excellent!
ReplyDeleteThat's an intriguing take on the famous lady. It's fun to imagine what she has thought looking back on all of us gawkers, for centuries. I have not seen her behind a bar, poor dear. Best to protect her, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteChouette nouvelle 55, merci Monsieur!
I saw her once at the Louvre. Indeed, she is far larger in my imagination. And, she is far more complex in your direct-hit 55 words, my friend. Bravo. EFH
ReplyDeleteWell done! Your nouvelle 55 sets a high bar for the form and inspires me to try another.
ReplyDeletewell done.
ReplyDeleteWell done...What does she think of all the attention. Good job. Vb
ReplyDeleteYou have added even more mystery and intrigue.
ReplyDeleteThat first line is just a perfect summing up of the infamous expression. A diffident and so artificial constraint.And the pranking does seem in evidence with a second glance, whether in the artist's or subject's mind.
ReplyDeleteYes, what is she thinking in her "diffident corset"? I remember being so surprised, the first time I saw her, at how small the painting is. Her gaze is so large. He certainly was a trickster.
ReplyDeleteNice magpie and nouvelle 55, Lorenzo!
leonardo was a master...and a prankster with his sly little tricks...nice write lorenzo...
ReplyDeleteIt's that coy grin that intrigues us so. Nice piece, LLL. Thanks for including Magpie in your Nouvelle 55!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a Nouvelle 55's. Wonderful Ruth. I love the buxom smile, diffident corset, perversity and pranksterism. Even though short and tight, this poem is roomy, Lorenzo.
ReplyDeletexo
erin
Wonderful! I LOT is said (and NOT said) with a woman's coy half-smile.
ReplyDelete... this will be one of my favorite Magpies ...
ReplyDelete"master optician, engineer, prankster" Yes! Indeed, he is. He has kept viewers forever guessing and I bet he would laugh at the theories that have abounded over the centuries. Nice.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, good one, very clever, like Helen, one of my fav magpie this week.
ReplyDeleteGoodness Gracious, is there nobody who has a good word to say about her and the smile?
ReplyDeleteWell worded!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you turned the tables onto Leonardo in the end, a refreshing take on the most famous woman in the world.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent, absolutely loved this - my second (thus far, along with #31) favorite piece of this week's offerings.
ReplyDeleteReally liked this, Lorenzo. Excellent!
ReplyDeleteBravo -- a double mime with one great short 55.
ReplyDeleteJoanny
That was your first try at a new genre? I find that amazing and humbling!
ReplyDelete"balancing a world agawk" is stunning and memorable.
Dear Lorenzo: Particularly love the lines;
ReplyDeleteGioconda, coy grin on one still pan,
balancing a world agawk
swinging wildly on the other.
Get the feeling Leonard would have been the first to develop the movie camera and "pan" Mona Lisa in the golden triangle balance which puts a perspective on those high ideals of the Italian Renaissance! Brilliant take!
Oh, wonderful, Lorenzo! I wish da Vinci could read this. Somehow I think he'd love it.
ReplyDeleteyes!!!!
ReplyDeletela gioconda nunca ha sido uno de mis cuadros PREFERIDOS pero en fin...
me encanta tu poema!
la gente en los museos se vuelve locaaaaa---
besos
yolanda
Wonderful work, Lorenzo! I'm always amazed at what you can say in so few words. I absolutely adore how the first stanza begins with her and then takes us to the artist...and that perfect last word...prankster. I also love your use of the word "corset." Big applause!
ReplyDeleteYou have added even more mystery and intrigue.
ReplyDelete