"Vanity" *

 

And then sweet knight what is a lord's one wish

That I should close my eyes and proffer up a kiss

My scarlet lips as yet unbruised

And chaste as any girl-child

My heavy hair inviting as your favourite filly's mane

And from my yearning skin

My heated pearls entice

And long to rein you in

Upon my virgin-pure embrace

 

My knowing look may yet deceive

A worldly knight

So gaze upon my portrait

And in your wisdom see

What? An innocent or wanton?

An actress-model for his oils?

The schoolgirl dressed in golden thread?

Or woman of your dreams.

 

 

Meg Marsden's poem inspired by the painting "Vanity" by F.C. Cowper