Leonardo stands in the hush of his studio,
paintings breathing softly behind him~
the Virgin’s calm, the inventor’s restless sketches,
and the Mona Lisa waiting on her easel,
her half-smile already carrying
more secrets than the room can hold.
Beside him, the cracked egg waits~
its shell veined and luminous,
a chamber where silence has been working.
Leonardo touches it,
and she steps out smiling,
the broken shell releasing
what had been forming in quiet,
an idea finding its shape
the instant his hand
made room for it.
*apertura is a Renaissance-rooted word for “the moment creation steps forward.”
Even if tears run down your cheeks and struggle to dry,
Even if your thoughts wander in search of a loving past,
There still remain the memories of each day that everything can recall,
Scenes of love that often overwhelm you despite the sadness.
Even if the days are sometimes a path of distress and pain,
Not losing your footing, returning to life hurts — you must let the veil fall.
Even if you’ve lost the desire for celebration, for being king or queen to others,
Learn to live again, write letters of your finest thoughts to the stars.
May they become messengers of unique moments offered to the beyond.
Lay down your arms and let yourself be carried by the wind, a breath, a breeze.
Nothing fades, like a dust of the universe sprinkling our steps.
Let yourself be cradled by a spring of life so the wounds may heal.
Sometimes still you overflow with pain and your heart is sorrowful.
Soothe your soul to let the most beautiful moments take flight.
Tame this darkness to offer the brightest face to your loved ones.
Keep rays of sunshine in the hollow of your hands… Even If…
Joël Charvillat.
Am I allowed to whisper into your hair?
May I comb your love, drink from your well;
Be it with my feet may I walk cleanse your toes;
Shall we dance, May we talk;
Given just a chance;
Happiness embraces us;
Such a love, ever beautiful;
Heaven knows,
The world places us in a slot
We’re luke-warm, never extreme cold nor hot;
Shall we dance, May we talk;
Covenant new romance;
Given just a chance;
Shall we dance, May we talk;
Blessed beautiful the voices;
Chosen are the choices;
Covenant renewed, chosen---
Renaissance
3/16/26
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.2026©
An autodidact
I fathered many patents
I was born a slave
U.S. railways I designed
I stood tall until my grave
Don’t part from me
My holy princely friend
As prayers to Leonardo
And King Francois just won’t do
I raise my voice to you
from this land of broken vases
where dreams of swans turn into hay
and morning is forever
dawning into an icy
hellish Arctic bay
I talk myself to sleep with you
Rolled up in feathered cloth
And pray, you grant
the long delayed release I’ve sought
Afternoon sunlight angled deep and low
Across the flooded fields of sunflowers aglow
Massive strips of sparkling yellow fairy light
Travelling over green and ochre tilled lands bright
With drops of rain, like tears from late day showers
On giant comic faces and trembling leafy hands
Each bizarre and staring flower posing in sunshine stands
And seems to laugh, echoes of forgotten renaissance heroes
Lost in breezes in farm fields of known and knowing flowers
they are yours
and mines;
the hard-boiled
cookery of virtuous noise.
a polyphony wrapped
in aluminum foil
on a tedious shelf
w/bits of mythic statuary,
petite reliquary
of gastronomic demise,
and jars of jazz
sit motionless,
mummified
in gifted dishes.
they are the cool
epistemologies
that gel I the mixing bowl of life
that sudden slap
in the face of time
and the subsequent freeze.
What do I wish for my wild heart?
In this trail is the finest art.
That is why I am almost there
With Lydian lyre and lore, or more
Cher sings her effectuated soul,
Discerning hearts excite the whole.
He was a servant's son, young and proud
But expressed his opinions out loud
By the will of the King
He braved the guillotine
So now he heads off into the crowd
I feel like finally saying
And yet I did not ask for it
I even gave it up
To this first love
To this unforgettable love
Finally
I've done bad, I'm full of guilt.
I deserve punishment to the hilt.
You've every reason - sure, you've got 'em.
So, whack me soundly on my bottom,
but please, oh please, don't give me a lecture
on Renaissance architecture.
I go to the fair
and I see many crafts
My brother didn't really care
It started to rain I thought we needed rafts
Then came the thunder
And the women in dresses
started to shudder
everyone (finally) restless
(Well everyone but me)
I take off my shoes
All the women procrastinating
And I played in the puddles like I had nothing to lose
His affections past and present left such an impression.
After the first fated losses, I knew I needed him again.
I reached out to him so our renaissance can help me carry on.
DA VINCI's LISA
no curl
this girl
MICHELANGELO
ceiling
on show
DONATELLO
nude male
to scale
Metro Cardigan
with a slim fit.
Be in your thinking mature.
Hero of the day.
Atlantic Starr
Moving steadily besides the still waters.
May goodness follow me.
Ensemble Cymbalta.
Skyscrapers on top of cloud atlas,
Vanilla sky fools delight of a purple sky.
Rotating around the earth's axis.
Now let's end it on a good good note.
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