Jean-Leon Gerome, The Duel After the Masquerade, 1857
Consider just this image, frank and bold
It represents a duel’s morbid, white end
The slain clown his shocked retainers enfold
While the avenger leaves with his strong friend
Art can and does function mimetically
At imitation, we humans excel
But it also works diegetically
Conspiring to invented stories tell
Can we work out why the poor, pale clown fell?
Why yes, for even if anonymous
These two did quarrel; one’s now bound for Hell
The painting leaves the mystery to us
As well it should, for having shown and told
The enigma remains, and can’t grow old
About the Creator
D. J. Reddall
I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.
Keep reading
More stories from D. J. Reddall and writers in Poets and other communities.
Comments (4)
you are ever prolific - holy! writing these sonnets certainly exercises your literary gymnastic skills. Very clever piece, this one.
I like the mystery too. Great painting, great sonnet.
I always love to see such ekphrastic sonnets. Well done
Another great ekphrasis!