The Red Dress, by Shayna Nenni

The Netherlandish Proverbs, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (Netherlands). 1559.

The Red Dress

Pieter’s irascible personality bleeds
through the oak panel
as the vermilion struggles
to break free from the binding oil. 
She wears it like alkaline 
hot springs do cinnabar & 
she is the loveliest proverb 
painted with pigments 
as the lingering scent of frankinscence
floats through Pieter’s air.
The skiff sailing in the sunlight 
is easier to manipulate
with his wet oil than the red dress
& all know it is she Pieter detests. ​

Shayna Nenni

Shayna Nenni is an English creative writing graduate student at the State University of New York at Brockport—her hometown. She has published short stories through several college literary magazines. In the meantime, she is devoted to her thirteen-year-old golden retriever, Roxy.