JC Brul Poet Ekphrasis

Notes About The Poem

Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa about 1503, and it was in his studio when he died in 1519. He likely worked on it intermittently over several years, adding multiple layers of thin oil glazes at different times. Small cracks in the paint, called craquelure, appear throughout the whole piece, but they are finer on the hands, where the thinner glazes correspond to Leonardo’s late period.

Source:https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mona-Lisa-painting

 

21 May 2026

 

Ekphrasis on Monalisa

I stand along the grey walls 
of a sacred sanctuary
where her portrait hangs
   immersing
            eluding
                   shifting
in consummate chiaroscuro

like velvet,  darkness drapes
across her almond cheeks
and I wonder
what the painter had in mind
when his last brush strokes
wet-on-wet
were glazing sfumato
                 blending
       feathering
                    scumbling
the mysterious curves 
         of her lips

crestfallen or elated?
I wonder

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Joanna Daniel July 22, 2026 at 12:25 AM Very authentic writing, Unica, profound and impactful, congratulations:)

Andrea Dietrich June 28, 2026 at 4:27 PM This is number 10 now on top 100 new poems list. Way to go!

Karen Jones June 20, 2026 at 6:50 PM Congratulations on your gem of a poem being on soup’s top 100 poems list.

Andrea Dietrich June 17, 2026 at 9:39 PM Wow . How did I miss this one that got a trophy win earlier. This is short yet elegant. Perfect and congrats

David Crandall June 8, 2026 at 6:31 PM Mona Lisa - the 500 years plus mystery continues - great poem!

CayCay Godwin May 30, 2026 at 9:09 AM This is so well written, a mighty fine job with the form. The imagery is ew la la. Perhaps regrettably, I view that painting differently because of a lecture I once attended. The truth (speaker's) is that Mona Lisa only became a famous painting because it was stolen out of a gallery (in New York, I think) and received extensive press. I hope I haven't ruined anything for you. I told you because I'd want to be told, my want and your want may not be twins so pls forgive if I caused trouble. JC Brul May 31, 2026 at 12:40 AM Thank yiu Caycay. I appreciate your visit and warm feedback. ^___^

Len Gasun May 30, 2026 at 7:27 AM This is an outstanding poem inspired by Monaliza painting, my dearest poet friend,JCB. Warm huge belated Congrats on your well-deserved trophy win! Hugs and cheers! Thanks a lot for sharing! I enjoyed immensely. I'll be back soon/tom to read more from you, promise. Sorry for not staying long yet esp night time here, cuz of my eye problem. Thanks a lot again. God bless you always and your poetry. JC Brul May 30, 2026 at 7:53 AM Hi dear Len..No sorry my dearest poet friend. Your visit is an honour. Stay blessed. ^___^

Bernardo F. Asuncion May 28, 2026 at 3:31 PM The words themselves describe movement — and the layout enacts it. The poem moves across the page the way the eye moves across the painting, the way the sfumato shifts and dissolves. What a poem! Big congrats, Sister JCB JC Brul May 30, 2026 at 7:51 AM Thank you brother Bernard for the heartwarming feedback. ^___^

Malabika Ray Choudhury May 27, 2026 at 9:52 PM Congratulations, Dear JCB, on your trophy win. This “Ekphrasis” deserves the honour especially because of your description of the creative process. I am so delighted to see you win! JC Brul May 28, 2026 at 7:24 PM Thank dear Mala. Your heartwarming feedback is truly uplifting!^___^

sara Etgen-Baker May 25, 2026 at 4:26 PM awesome and worthy of the Trophy win! Perfectly descriptive! JC Brul May 28, 2026 at 7:23 PM Thank you dear Sara. Your visit is an honour. ^___^

Trina Layne May 25, 2026 at 12:23 PM Congratulations! Your references to the various techniques lead me to believe that you are somewhat of a painter yourself. I enjoyed this. JC Brul May 28, 2026 at 7:22 PM Glad you enjoyed this Trina. Thank you. ^___^

Kim Rodrigues May 25, 2026 at 4:31 AM You certainly deserved the honor of this first place win, JCB! Love it all, along with the mysterious curves of her lips, so sensuous. Fave!! Congrats! JC Brul May 28, 2026 at 7:21 PM Thank you dear Kim. Your warm feedback is always appreciated and for the FAvE--I am elated ^___^

Paige Hind May 24, 2026 at 11:44 PM so interesting, JCB- in my favs JC Brul May 25, 2026 at 12:54 AM Thank you Paige..For the fav---I am more than delighted. ^___^

Valsa George May 22, 2026 at 8:59 PM Beautifully written. I have been to Louvre Museum in Paris and had seen this painting during our European trip. You have described it perfectly though two words you have used, I have yet to look in the dictionary. Congratulations on your trophy win. JC Brul May 25, 2026 at 12:53 AM Thank you dear Valsa.. Going to Louvre Museum in Paris is one of my greatest dreams apart from watching a live opera in Vienna. ^___^

I Am Anaya May 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM Congratulations on your trophy win, JCB! I love the "chiaroscuro" it all gives a renascence vibe, profound, cultural! Voilà JC Brul May 22, 2026 at 4:07 PM Thank you, I am Anaya..I was experimenting with this one and the trophy win is like "serendipity". ^___^ JCB