Look Closely

Susanna and the Elders

by Lorenzo Lotto, 1517

See the overweight woman in a red dress?

The tiny figure reminds me of my dead mother.

Look closely. Blending into the hillside

is a couple.  What are they looking at?

I can’t see from here. 

Notice the men in the foreground.

Sharp nose, silly hat.  The finger-pointer.

The flag waver.  The one who stoops to peek.

See the woman cowering in the corner,

no clothes, heavy thighs?

I am everyone in this picture.

The indifferent,  the one too far away

to hear cries for help.  I’m the accuser. 

I am the naked thing against the wall. 

Look closely. Are you a painter, too?