Woooh* - don’t you think I’ve made a good catch… I was waiting for this You know – there’ve been many hints…it all started with him coming to talk about music and we exchanged songs and manuscripts – ah, such French songs with smooth airs and sweetness the Dutch cannot bring into existence; and today too he came, as you see him now beside me and we started with a song book he brought and he started with a preamble about love and music and we talked about the lyrics, and we swayed to the tunes, and he said: “Such a song too, O fair one, I have written” – and he pulled out this sheet and he placed it in my hands and he cooed: “This song is of sweet love – And your opinion I’d like to know” O my, my, my….my heart’s beating fast… he’s written a declaration of love…indeed… it’s a bad song but good in intent …it can be no other way…love…love…he’s declaring his love for me…I knew…I knew it was coming… all those hesitations today, and on so many other occasions… all those sighs, sad faces one day and happy and light spirit on another…a man of many words on some and of solemn few several days…I knew…I knew…I knew… it was coming…and here I am, looking in suspended time at the audience like a Shakespearean maiden, in soliloquy – certes beautiful, certes smart – O help me, help me….most distinguished viewers He’s like a mouse cat in a trap… *Should I? Should I?
Poem based on painting “Girl interrupted at her music” by Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675)