Mona Lisa

[Hawkman]

Wipe the smirk off your face,
for it shows little grace
when you stare at us out of the past;
were you passed in the street
in the midsummer heat
would anyone spare you a glance?

But because you are framed
and Da Vinci is famed
for your portrait’s intense ambiguity,
the criminal rich,
whose light fingers may itch,
will covet you in perpetuity.

Though you hang in the Louvre
and we all may amuse
while we ponder the artist’s intent,
and ask if it’s true
that Da Vinci is you,
for we already know he was bent.

Through the bullet-proof glass
you watch as we pass,
your eyes always follow us round,
observing and smirking,
for ever, just lurking,
in vanity, cruel and unsound.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I didn't feel adequately prepared for the "vanity, cruel and unsound" of the conclusion, but of course was held in fascinated attention by the deftness of all the lines that preceded it.

[hillwalker]

Yes, great poem Hawk but I don't think the poor lady deserves that 'cruel and unsound' epithet.

Having said that, the pace and rhyme are just right so she might forgive you this once.

H

[Hawkman]

Hill & Prince,

Thank you both for your comments :D While writing this piece, I very much had in mind Douglas Adams' remark about never trusting anyone who grins all the time, as they are probably up to no good. Well, to be honest he was talking about Dolphins, but I extended the interpretation to include the Mona Lisa, after all, she's been wearing that smug smirk for 500 years or more:

Silently watching,
undoubtedly plotting,
behind her facade so serene.
One questions the motive
an ikon so votive
would choose to disguise all her schemes.

Hence cruel and unsound (if not actually mad) :devil:

Live and be well, H

[YesNo]

You display a solid metrical skill. Very nice.

It seems like the painting is overrated, but being a tourist is like being on a pilgrimage: you just have to pass by the key sites even if you have to wait for hours in line.

[Haunted]

Hawk, very interesting concept, "if it’s true / that Da Vinci is you"

But even more interesting is not what you said in the poem but in your comments, "she's been wearing that smug smirk for 500 years or more".

So instead of calling her cruel, why not just ask her why she's wearing that smug smirk for 500 years and let the lady answer it herself?

[Hawkman]

Y/N, Thanks, glad you like the beat :D

Hello Haunted,

Well, to be honest, I did ask her, but the girl with no eyebrows declined to answer, assuming she could actually hear me through 2 inches of bullet-proof glass. I therefore concluded that she was deliberately torturing all the academics and art historians with her silence, and chuckling quietly to herself as they all tie themselves in knots with their various theories, which is sort of hinted at in the poem. :D

[Haunted]

oh you did...but did you forget the roses? That should get some reaction, even if it's just a smack across the face for hitting on her high horse. :D

[AuntShecky]

This is a delightfully witty piece of light verse, which, like all light verse, conceals more serious truths.

My favorite line is in the second stanza (line #10 in the poem.) The meaning of that line echoes my feelings exactly, not just on the greedy members of the art world, but in contemporary society at large.

[Hawkman]

Thanks Auntie :D You are definately on my wavelength :devil: An expression of Timothy Leary's springs to mind, only one more step to take! :cheers2:

H

[Delta40]

very quirky and witty Hawk.

[Hawkman]

Thanks Delta.

[Jerrybaldy]

Very well put Hawk. May I ask if it was inspired by a recent visit or all in the poets mind?

[Hawkman]

Hi JB. Well, the visit wasn't recent - I haven't been to Paris since about 1983. So I guess I'm just playing with the perception of the 500 year old ikon of world heritage :D

Aum Shiva - H

[oshima]

I was really dreading driving out to night class in half an hour, but this poem put a smile on my face and put me in a delightful mood. Thank you so much!

[Hawkman]

You are most welcome, oshima. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

H