POEM: Mona Lisa

I step into the grand hall of the Louvre,

My heart pounding with anticipation.

The whispers of countless visitors fill the air,

Blitz flashes incessantly,

But my focus remains unwavering.

I weave through the crowds,

Following the signs that lead me to her.

She’s the first one I want to see.

And then, there she is,

The enigmatic smile that has captivated hearts for centuries.

Mona Lisa.

I stand in awe, studying every brushstroke, every subtle hue,

As if deciphering a secret language.

The crowded room seems to fade away,

Leaving only her and me in a timeless moment.

The protective barriers that stand between her and the admirers seem to not matter anymore.

The sheer magnitude of her presence is overwhelming,

A testament to the power of art.

As I finally tear myself away,

I carry her image within me,

Forever etched in my mind,

A souvenir of my pilgrimage to the heart of Paris.

~~~~~~~~~~

I was devastated by the news at the Louvre Museum yesterday when two vandals attacked Mona Lisa. Such a sacrilege. The way how they decided to protest is not going to resolve the issue that they want to bring awareness to. If I were there, I would have dragged those two lunatics by their hair out of the museum. These two vandals (and anyone else who attacks art the same way) deserve to be banned from all museums and galleries of the world, forever. Luckily, they got arrested yesterday. But most importantly, Mona Lisa was not damaged, protected by her bulletproof glass wall.

I traveled to Paris and visited the Louvre for the first time in 2008. Mona Lisa was the very first exhibit that I wanted to see. The energy in the room where she resides was incredible that day. As it happened, it was also a Sunday. I had to wait in line for minutes to see her. Millions of people from all over the world come to Paris every year just to see her at the Louvre.

And then there are such scumbags who think they can change the world by throwing soup at THE MOST VALUABLE PAINTING IN THE WORLD, in the entire history of humanity.

I wrote this poem last year. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit the Louvre and see Mona Lisa.

Paris, Louvre, October 2008. Photo credit: Victoria West