The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • Ekphrastic Book Shelf
    • Contributors' Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • Workshops
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead

A Nun Joins the Nouveau Order, by Maureen Kingston

9/28/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
The Kiss, by Gustav Klimt (b. Austria), 1908.
A Nun Joins the Nouveau Order

                                              Belvedere Palace Tour, 1909


Klimt, Viennese thief of shiny armour, ripped the Bayeux Tapestry from its castle wall, hauled it to his bedroom floor, then plucked medieval Mary from her perch, unpinned her angel wings, drew her to his knightly lips. Klimt, alchemist, chef d’amour, melted down our golden mean for his own delight, scummed its dross, brushed her closed eyes, his open lips.


I should condemn this profane Eden, scorn Klimt’s carnal eye, but I can’t see how to do it. The artist covers his tracks too well. Both subjects are fully sheathed, their kiss—hardly worthy of the title—more temple peck than original sin.


And yet, in the couple’s mingling cloaks, a mystery play; in the murmuration of his chainmail and her chemise, holy communion. Mysterium fascinans. The temptation to join them, to become conjoined, overwhelms me—as it had once before—and I rush forward with the other worshippers, our flock angling, arrowing to pierce the picture plane.

Maureen Kingston


Maureen Kingston’s poems and prose have appeared or are forthcoming in Blue Earth Review, B O D Y, Gargoyle, Hermeneutic Chaos Literary Journal, Maudlin House, Misfitmagazine.net, Modern Poetry Quarterly Review, Red Paint Hill, So to Speak, Stoneboat, and Terrain.org. A few of her poems and prose pieces have also been nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart awards.
1 Comment
Norbert Kovacs
9/28/2016 06:59:57 pm

I enjoy the nun's perspective in this piece. She is part art critic, part sexual voyeur. Well written.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    COOKIES/PRIVACY
    This site uses cookies to deliver your best navigation experience this time and next. Continuing here means you consent to cookies. Thank you.
    Join us on Facebook:
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Lorette C. Luzajic theekphrasticreview@gmail.com 

  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • Ekphrastic Book Shelf
    • Contributors' Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • Workshops
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead