Rodney Purvis: Life-Drawing Model

Life-Drawing Model
for Karen

Were your eyes blue, green or brown—

Blonde girl in your prime? I’ve known

Faces; yours was lovely.

Almond eyes professionally avoiding mine

As studiously I set myself to form, outline

Your sculpted, gold and seamless body.

Flaxen hair gathered in a small pony-tail,

Some wisps escaping. A hibiscus: sparkling green

And scarlet nestled on your neck.

Gold aubergines your breasts,

Tipped with rubies.

Like some archetypal beauty, you posed motionless

As some model may have sat for Caravaggio,

Yet here stripped of all shadow.

Maidenhair tight curled, silvery violet,

A delicate, hirsute screen over an angel’s garden.

I could draw you forever and still

Not render your beauty.

Rodney Purvis