Three for the Mona Lisa

John Stone

1

It is not what she did
at 10 o'clock
last evening

accounts for the smile

It is
that she plans
to do it again

tonight.

2

Only the mouth
all those years
ever

letting on.

3

It's not the mouth
exactly

it's not the eyes
exactly either

it's not even
exactly a smile

But, whatever,
I second the motion.

Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa (c.1503)

Oil on panel, approximately 30 inches x 21 inches. Louvre, Paris.


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