Poem on “After the Bath”
She Bathes in Sorrow’s Beauty
Tall and lithe, she is no model matron
for Ruben. Slim, yet healthy, she disrobes
here to swim before bathing. The sun strobes
between clouds passing; Neptune, her patron
lord, embraces her in saline love. Run
down the beach as she does, knowing, she probes
waves with longing eyes, seeking message globes
she knows no longer surf to her shore’s sun.
He pined for her from his prison island
so many years, writing poems, letters
heated and sublime, sealed and sent them, planned
for her eyes alone . . . jailors and betters
told Neptune. Jealous sea! Swallowed island.
David M Pitchford 040808
Filed under: Petrarchan Sonnet, Xenoneoclassicist Poetry, creative souls, depression, ekphrasis, national poetry month, nude, poem, poems, poems about paintings, poetry, poetry revolution, sex, sonnet | Tagged: Bouguereau
