Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Immortal Venus Of Genoa

Immortal Venus Of Genoa
© Surazeus
2019 02 05

Sharp sunlight gleams on silver flashing waves
that ripple sparkling toward the white-sand beach
where pink flowers tumble in morning breeze
to land in long gold hair of the young girl
who rambles among slender apple trees
and whistles with birds that flutter small wings.

Kneeling in lush grass on shore of the stream
that trickles winding among wind-swept hills,
Simonetta dips fingers in swift flow
of cool water that flashes in dawn light,
then gasps as she splashes her face and breast,
blushing as she gazes at glowing clouds.

Slipping long gown down her shoulders and thighs,
so it rumples with seaweed on white sand,
Simonetta wades in Ligurian Sea,
then dives headfirst into high curling waves
which angry Neptune beats against sharp rocks,
and swims out under the cool shimmering sky.

Small and fragile on wild Ligurian Sea,
Simonetta swims sensuously through waves
of flashing water toward pure shining light
where Helius rises gleaming from abyss,
then floats, treading water, in surging sea,
arms spread wide like a hawk gliding on wind.

Swimming back toward beach surrounded by cliffs
of jagged gold rocks that tower at blue sky,
Simonetta rises from crystal waves,
green water drops flowing over soft skin,
and long gold hair clings to her breasts and thighs
as she glides through green waves to the white sand.

Her parents, Gaspare and Chateroccia,
who sit together in the small wood boat
as west wind blows long hair around their faces,
open the large green bottle to drink wine,
sing quaint folk song about Queen Cleopatra,
then kiss as the boat rocks on surging waves.

Running forward from grove of apple trees,
her sister Cattocchia drapes long dry gown
around her shoulders to wrap her up warm,
then Simonetta kisses her flushed cheek
as they sit together in bower of grapes,
arms wrapped around each other in brisk breeze.

Bringing bowl of apples, cherries, and pears,
Marco Vespucci kneels before cute sisters,
and, while they giggle and eat luscious fruit,
he plays sweet melody on ringing lute,
improvising song about Birth of Venus,
Goddess of Love who rises from the sea.

I see you rising from the sparkling sea,
sweet Simonetta, soul of fertile Venus,
elegant and graceful on the gold sea shell
as Jupiter and Juno blow soft wind
that swirls long hair around your breasts and thighs,
while sapphire stars glitter in your blue eyes.

Sitting in gazebo among apple trees,
Sandro Botticelli sketches Arcadian scene
with Simonetta Cattaneo as Venus,
elegant girl with long flowing gold hair
who rises from waves of the surging sea
to embody perfect beauty of life.

Holding hands in the large crowded courtyard
of the Palazzo Medici in Fiorenza,
Simonetta and Marco share love vows,
then sit together at their wedding feast
inside the lavish Villa di Careggi,
as Lorenzo Medici toasts their health.

At the joust in the Piazza Santa Croce,
Giuliano Medici rides on white horse,
bearing green banner on tip of his spear
showing Simonetta as Pallas Athena,
Goddess of Wisdom wearing a gold helmet,
with inscription, The Unparalleled One.

Crowned Queen of Beauty in Medici Court,
Simonetta in flower-embroidered gown
blushes rose red as blue eyes sparkle bright
when Angelo Poliziano recites poem
about Iulio and Simonetta the Siren
who sing and dance on meadows of Elysium.

Lounging among apple trees on lush hill,
Simonetta lies stretched in flowered gown
to gaze at clouds glowing bright up in Heaven
and Giuliano sleeps after hard-fought battle,
while Sandro paints them as Venus and Mars
with three naughty Satyrs stealing his lance.

Coughing up blood that stains her flowered gown,
Simonetta lies sick in tall tower room,
surrounded by family and friends who weep
as tuberculosis destroys her body,
and Marco holds her hand with broken heart,
but her blue eyes gaze at the glowing cloud.

Bearing open coffin through Florence streets
Marco, Giuliano, Lorenzo, and Sandro
set her down beside the Fountain of Neptune
and bow their heads to mourn her lost soul
as everyone pauses long to admire
Simonetta, immortal Venus of Genoa.

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