Detail of "Il Morticino," a painting by Giuseppe Pellizza. Courtesy of L'art au present/flickr.
Froth of fabric against
boning, structures
of clasp & waist & layers
of cake, tables set
in silver. Cheekbones.
Chair covers. Hush
of an audience standing
up: fabric, again. Clothed
arms, legs, chiffon cinched
at wrists, the brush
of a too-short hem. Rigor
of wood & water & fog
on a harbor & seals with
boats tugging by them.