He finished the painting yesterday noon. Now
he studies it in detail. He has painted him in a
gray unbuttoned coat, a deep gray; without
any vest or any tie. With a rose-colored shirt;
open at the collar, so something might be seen
also of the beauty of his chest, of his neck.
The right temple is almost entirely
covered by his hair, his beautiful hair
(parted in the manner he prefers it this year).
There is the completely voluptuous tone
he wanted to put into it when he was doing the eyes,
when he was doing the lips.... His mouth, the lips
that are made for consummation, for choice love-making.
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Comments2Just finished reading "Picture of a 23-year-old Youth Painted by His Friend of the Same Age, an Amature" by Constantine Cavafy. Wow, it sure is a mix of simple yet sensuous imagery. The verse that caught my attention was, "The right temple is almost entirely covered by his hair, his beautiful hair (parted in the manner he prefers it this year)." It's amazing how Cavafy detailed an ordinary setting and turned it into a passionate narrative. Really helps me broaden my understanding of poetry. And the homework just got an interesting twist.
Vivid and sensuous - beautifully penned!