Salome and Poor John
Another in my series of "Art Criticism in Song". This time a Dutch Master's version of Salome with the Head of John the Baptist"
(Em) She stands in the archway
Her (Bm) stance hints at (Em) triumph
The date and mystic symbols in the (Bm) skies.
Her (Em) posture speaks
Of a (Bm) kind of de(Em)fiance
But she (G) can't look the (D) viewer in the (Em) eyes.
The (Em) landscape behind her
Is (Bm) certainly not (Em) Dutch
There are no mountains near lowland (Bm) farms
She (Em) holds the plate
With a (Bm) delicate (Em) touch
Like (G) it's a newborn (D) baby in her (Em) arms
Her (Em) fine headdress speaks
(Bm) Of her high (Em) status
Through it she got to beg for the saint's (Bm) head
(Em) Perhaps her loose green sash
(Bm) Hints at a hi(Em)atus
As a (G) symbol it is (D) difficult to (Em) read
Poor (Em) John on a pewter plate
Looks (Bm) up without (Em) sight
Is that a trace of accusation in his (Bm) look?
His (Em) mouth half open
As (Bm) if it would re(Em)cite
A (G) fish in air, (D) caught on a barbed (Em) hook.
(Em) She wears a red dress
Is this a (Bm) hint of (Em) violence?
Matching the blood we see on poor John's (Bm) neck.
As she (Em) enters in this space
You can (Bm) almost hear the (Em) silence
On the (G) inside is she (D) now a nervous (Em) wreck?
(Em) She stands in the archway
Her (Bm) stance hints at (Em) triumph
But she (G) can't look the (D) viewer in the (Em) eyes
Commentary on the Painting "Salome" by
Jakob Cornelis van Oostsanen