Ingres paints Madame Moitessier
He kissed my hand when we began the sitting.
Ardent, anxious almost. Even a trace
of horror in his voice? The thought of putting
skill to work: ”That terrible, beautiful face!”
This portrait ought to be food for us. Skin,
jewellery, Lyons silk confirm for us
two - painter and painted – that we can win
the envious look we want from salon viewers.
So why persist in stuffing behind me there,
a mirror self, a crude reflected head
part turned away? The texture of the hair
is poorly done, alongside mine looks dead.
Tant pis – I shall tease the smile Leonardo knew
over my lips. Come, Ingres, time to draw!
Ardent, anxious almost. Even a trace
of horror in his voice? The thought of putting
skill to work: ”That terrible, beautiful face!”
This portrait ought to be food for us. Skin,
jewellery, Lyons silk confirm for us
two - painter and painted – that we can win
the envious look we want from salon viewers.
So why persist in stuffing behind me there,
a mirror self, a crude reflected head
part turned away? The texture of the hair
is poorly done, alongside mine looks dead.
Tant pis – I shall tease the smile Leonardo knew
over my lips. Come, Ingres, time to draw!
Mavis Gregson lives and writes in Berkshire. These are almost her first published poems.
Page(s) 54
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