I stand in the chamber of Glass by The Arnolfini Portrait
Inside the room
where everything is too still
as if even air has agreed to behave
She stands in green,
deep weighted,
deliberate
like a thought that has been
stitched into fabric
so it cannot escape its own meaning
He stands across from her,
not touching,
not moving toward or away,
as if distance has been arranged
with crescent care
and called love
Above them, a chandelier holds itself
like a paused sangria sun
its empty candles
insisting on presence
without giving light
A small dog watches from the floor,
simple and certain,
as if loyalty is just another object in the room
that no one questions
And then there is the mirror
I do not notice it at first
the way you do not notice being watched
until you already are
In it, the room folds inward
The couple repeats itself
in miniature truth
And behind them someone stands
I realize then
it is not only a portrait
It is a record of witnessing
And I am not outside it
I am already in the glass
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
