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