The Glass of Wine, by Ann Quinn

The Glass of Wine, by Johannes Vermeer (Netherlands) various dates suggested from 1658-1661

The Glass of Wine

Girls learn to sit very well 
held by the frame of their bones
in the frame of the bones of the dress
but muscles tire
so she slumps onto the hard chairback. 

The table so warmly covered, 
the floor a checkerboard
of cold tile.

Every edge but the cushion’s 
sharply admonishes.

Oh for Breughel’s wedding dance--
The men’s excitement clearly rising
between their legs
The music a reedy cry of delight

not the cold thread of wine 
down her throat,
this man’s intentions hidden 
beneath his elegant cloak, 
ruffled cuff. 
He tries to impress 
with the jangle of his imperfect cittern 

plucking that she smiles through, 
pretending not to be bored.

Ann Quinn

Ann Quinn’s poetry was selected by Stanley Plumly as first place winner in the 2015 Bethesda Literary Arts Festival poetry contest, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her work is published in Potomac Review, Little Patuxent Review, Broadkill Review, and other journals and is included in the anthology Red Sky: Poetry on the Global Epidemic of Violence Against Women. Ann lives in Catonsville with her family where she teaches reflective and creative writing and music and plays clarinet with the Columbia Orchestra. Her degrees are in music performance; she fell in love with poetry in mid-life. Her chapbook, Final Deployment, is published by Finishing Line Press. Please visit online at www.annquinn.net.