WATTEAU

Tempting the age
with a Parnassus image
always inside your canvas
your components
in a bas relief
with women in sunny nature
of gestures of a slender flower
always in hand
for hours over Gemini angel fields
by hovering demons and gods
near the scenic grounds
of wondrous woodlands
in islands of almond trees
and men merely
as fair clowns or cavalier
by accords of regretted love
yet understood by Baudelaire
in his profound Les Phares,
you were disarmed by praise
by Nerval, Hugo and Gautier
in a time of frivolity
when the opera took on
poetry,painting, music, dance
costumed by Venus at play
in the evanescence shows
of comedia del Arte
and you,Antoine Watteau
took your part
in the fusion and costumes
of the theatrical farce
and echoes of the stage
with poses of insight
to ravish your fans
in the aura of your charm
that Marcel Proust
as critic was impressed
with your artistic largesse.