Maurice Denis
TWO SISTERS!
What lies behind their enigmatic faces?
What tragedies have claimed their waxen cheeks?
The eyes are hooded and I see the traces
Of words unspoken where no warm mouth speaks.
The artist gives no clue to their importance;
An air of mystery pervades the scene.
And odd it is that for their skin he's chosen
A hue of pale and almost sickly green!
*
I must call-up a tale to fill the spaces.
I must imagine what I cannot know.
For sure no happiness is here depicted.
The painting speaks of grey and grinding woe.
*
So where, I wonder can we make a starting?
Where can we find a point where truth begins?
Their closeness? Yes! Felicity and Honour!
Two middle-aged and most devoted twins.
They've given-up their lives to nurse their father;
Now he has died; they're seated by his bed.
Imprisoned by obedience for the decades
Now they are rudderless since he is dead.
The women mourn for Father (it's their duty)
And they fear the future now that he is gone,
And yet, I see a light behind the eyelids!
Which one will first say
'Sister! Life goes on!' ?
*
Another sort of sisterhood here:
