OLD PORTRAITS

(Tuscan museum)

Their beauty was such, they vanquished
stone and bronze,
disturbing the panels,
the canvas, the wall,
imprinting upon them
their fragance of body
and spirit, which now
catches our throats
like a fierce perfume.

They were fragile — but strong
in love — and gentle,
these women — Romans,
Venetians, Florentines,
blondes from Milan — and had
long secret pacts with time
and love, which now they offer
to us who did not exist then.