Gary Beck’s most recent poem to appear here was “Aging” (May 2017).
Vistas of History
By Gary Beck
A renaissance portrait
of an Italian nobleman
hangs in the museum
displaying to viewers
the cruel, ruthless face
of inherited privilege
ravaged by indulgence.
This is a picture of his times
when the corrupt few
wallowed in luxury,
unlike counterparts today
concealing their voracity
in controlled expressions,
striving to pass for human.
Distressing. Now I will look at those old Museum portraits in a different way. Good job.