Still Sitting
An Ekphrastic Sonnet
They say you are a genius, but you smell
Like the old well behind the sacristy;
None of the stories the other girls tell
Gave me cause to wonder if you’d harm me
So here I sit, as you slowly draw lines
That match the curves and angles of my face
Somehow, your antique eye seeks and divines
The smiling secret of my youthful grace
You do not look at me with groping lust
But as one might look at a lake or star
On the old machine of your hand, there’s rust
But the door of your mind must be ajar
You welcome me in, with my probing gaze
Centuries hence, it will others amaze
About the Creator
D. J. Reddall
I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
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Comments (17)
Congratulations on Top Story!! - Well Deserved!!!
You are too good! Congratulations on top story. You are a star
Brilliant!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Lovely poem with an amazing flow. Congratulations on top story 🎉
I very much enjoyed this poem, and I appreciate the imagery as well.
Glad to see this get the top spot. Back to say congrats, good sir!
Great sonnet! I like how you imagined Leonardo at work 🧡
Yayy! Back to say congratulations on your top story 🎉
Really lovely lines in this! “On the old machine of your hand, there’s rust But the door of your mind must be ajar” are just exquisite!
This is an excellent description of the pic. You bring it to life. Well done.
This is like "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" in taking art and offering the story behind it. So vivid, D.J. in its depiction of impressions that Leonardo comes to life. Deftly done. The crescendo is being reached!
Holy crapola - this is magnificent!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ that description of how he smells and the comment about the other girls… well done, bravo!
This is stunning sir! Id never seen that image before, which I guess is pre-Mona Lisa! love it and how you pay tribute to di Vinci's sublime ability to gaze, understand, and tranfer it all into precise strokes! well done, DJ!
Such a cool poem! It’s like you’re capturing a moment of quiet admiration—looking at someone not with desire, but with genuine curiosity. The mix of the old and new, plus that "door of your mind" line, gives it this vibe of timeless wonder. Nicely done!✨👏
ethereal 🤝❤
"You do not look at me with groping lust But as one might look at a lake or star On the old machine of your hand, there’s rust But the door of your mind must be ajar" I especially loved these lines!