Presentation of the Anti-Virgin, by Chris Daly

Presentation of the Virgin, by Tintoretto (Italy) c. 1551-1556

Presentation of the Anti-Virgin

Mary is played of course 
by the 12-year old Liz Taylor
with the poise of already having big feelings
and the quiet awareness of personal beauty.

The tall god-like king or king-like god
is at the top of the ancient steps of power.
In shadow going up along the left,
like downtown homeless in opera costumes,
the official sycophants of different ages.

Behind them by compression of perspective
a few more people in a doorway
a couple more in a window;
that side of the picture is a little
like a new york stoop-nagel neighbourhood.

That’s life on the throne

Out in the light as the steps go round
like the curvature of the earth,
Three non-madonna’s of the period
all with kids who are not Mary thank you.

This was 400-plus years ago.
The king/god was getting on
long beard sticking down
miter sticking up,
two male attendants.
The child Mary walking
out of the light into the dark
world of males,

every one looking at her,
some twisting their necks to do so,
others are professionally relaxed and alert.

The faces of the steps are intricately carved,
everyone wears material for Tintoretto
to work with.
There is spooky Dante-esque light
on the back of the shoulder of an auxiliary mother
and in the farther away part of the small area
of fairly cloudy sky.

A few figures are showing from that side
of the hill of power,
there is a steeple with no cross, 
not yet.

With all the power creeps leering
it’s lucky Mary has such charisma
that her head lights up an inch or two
of the air around her.

Chris Daly
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