Pygmalion And Galatea

Being Enlightened
Being Enlightened Posts: 5,746
edited August 2004 in Poetry, Prose, Music & Art
An oil painting by Jean Leon Gerome, circa 1890. I'm moved every time I see it, it's just beautiful!

A painting hangs on his wall.
A shield is looking out for him.
Various works upon the shelf
And the faces lean side by side,
Empty sockets,
Wide, gaping maws,
'Cept for the times he dons one or the other.
Gives voice to their empty opinions.
Puts it on for all the others to see.
But for her,
For her
He is always himself.
He is always just him.
His masterpiece!
How he has given his life's blood!
Poured out his soul!
But for her,
For her.
She needs one final touch.
He embraces his passion,
Soaks in all her beauty,
Surely he could not have created her alone,
How could his hands have possibly?
How could his troubled mind perfect his dream?
A kiss.
He desires just one kiss.
Hot, firey flesh meets cold indifference,
But cupid's arrow is aimed
And blood is coming from stone today!
He lets his passion flow
And feels new life within his hands!
All his love returned!
His beauty is of the same now!
Picture perfect!
Perfectly picturesque!
His dream!
His vision!
His reality!
Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • FinsburyParkCarrots
    FinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    That's a truly mighty piece of work, B.E.
    You led my eye from the distanced perspective of the observer of a painted canvas, through narrative to within the consciousness of Pygmalion himself.

    I wonder how a poem from Galatea's awakening perspective might turn out, also! That'd be an interesting exercise, for another time.
    :)
  • Radar(Baba)O'Riley
    Radar(Baba)O'Riley Posts: 947
    I'd like to see that painting

    and yet, I think I just did.

    Bravo
  • Being Enlightened
    Being Enlightened Posts: 5,746
    :) Thanks guys! You are too kind!

    And Fins, seeing through the eyes of Galatea---I may have to try that one day!
    Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen
  • Being Enlightened
    Being Enlightened Posts: 5,746
    From cold, hard stone
    To warm, soft flesh
    Awakened by a kiss
    Born into a warm embrace
    And what a wonderful, beautiful way
    For life to begin!
    In love!


    NOTE THE EDIT DATE! :p
    Okay, I never edit what I originally write and although this little add on totally SUCKS, I will not erase it! :) Please just kinda disregard it, okay. :D
    Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen
  • FinsburyParkCarrots
    FinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    A bump for B.E.!

    :)
  • Being Enlightened
    Being Enlightened Posts: 5,746
    A bump for Bibliobella. :)

    Here's the painting that inspired my poem. :)

    http://www.batguano.com/bgma/gerome.html

    Gosh, it's such a beautiful painting!

    ps. I was looking at the one on the left. :)
    Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen
  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,390
    Hi There! Thanks for bumping this up. It's cool to read that poem before and after I saw the painting. Your poem and the painting fit very well together.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • ExTReMe FrEAk
    ExTReMe FrEAk Posts: 118
    Originally posted by Bibliobella
    Hi There! Thanks for bumping this up. It's cool to read that poem before and after I saw the painting. Your poem and the painting fit very well together.
    I did the same as you did. Read the poem, looked at the picture, then read the poem agian. The first time though the poem, thought is was a good poem. Then I looked at the picture, followed by re-reading the poem... Then it turn from "good poem" to "wow".
    Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.
  • ISN
    ISN Posts: 1,700
    the picture is stunning.....and you've captured the feeling.....it's an inspiring picture.....I feel more edumacated.....heheheheh
    ....they're asking me to prove why I should be allowed to stay with my baby in Australia, because I'm mentally ill......and they think I should leave......
  • Being Enlightened
    Being Enlightened Posts: 5,746
    Thanks folks! Glad you like it! It's one the few poems I can actually say I'm proud of. :)





    LOL! :p I felts more edjamacated whenin I wuz lookin' ats it too, ISN! :D Hee! Hee!
    Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen

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