Jan/Feb 2016 Poetry |
Artwork by Marie Massey
Camille Monet
Monet's father refused to send money,
the scandal of his son and Camilleliving together unforgivable.
Hadn't Claude chosen paintingover his world of business? Now this woman?
But Camille loved Claudeas much as he loved both the outdoors
and her. There was no need for jealousyor the expense of other models.
Invariably she fondly recalled posingin a sumptuous red kimono
or standing with her parasolin a field lit with poppies.
She never questioned Claude's loyaltyeven after Alice Hoschedé
moved in with them, and Alice's husbandwas safely dispatched to Paris.
Gossip may have been a thick perfumein the house, but from her death bed
Camille watched Claude capturingher faded beauty with his brush,
attentive as always to heralone.