by Brian Salmons
Possessed
after Fernand Léger, “Big Julie” (1945)
Big Julie waits
for me to say
something.
The thing is
it is unexpected:
her flower held,
somehow her color,
how she rests
how she is a leopard
on her bike,
how her hair
comb beacons
distance.
She waits easily,
indifferent.
***
Off-balance
after Frans Masereel, “Matrosenabschied” (1921)
Side by side,
Awkwardly holding your hand
And gawked at,
But ready for everything together.
Larger than life.
Unsearching.
That’s how I remembered us
On the embankment.
Not face to face before the city.
Not like this.
Editors note: To view Fernand Leger’s work, including Big Julie, please see the MoMA website. Read more about Frans Masereel on his Wikipedia page.
Photo above by Kostiantyn Stupak from Pexels
