Artemisia Gentileschi, Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy

An Ekphrastic poem

All alone, head tilted back in ecstasy

Cheeks reddened into a rosy pink.

Blouse slips

Shoulder, collarbone, and cleavage. All a pale, snowy white.

Hands clasped in prayer resting upon knees draped in purple.

Hair, golden brown, tumbles unbound down shoulders bare.

Eyes shut, head resting against dark wood.

Oh, you, dearest Mary Magdalene

Seem so…

Peaceful? Yet so full of sorrow… Of anger, of pain.

Perhaps part of your ecstasy is the anger you might feel.

Anger at your life. I know I am.

Perhaps your ecstasy is the thrill of revenge

Revenge at the world that made you sell your body.

Innocent white, royal purple.

The prostitute saint

Reviews

[c4ssiopeia]

"the prostitute saint" is a very good line, especially as an ending

[Zombified Spider]

Thank you so much