After some drinks downed easily, An artist, unknown and unpaid, An artist, unknown and unpaid, And then decided to paint. Now, another small matter: A model Is needed for that! Here comes one! Couldn’t be better: Cute legs and a confident head! So, he ran straight to the fairy: "Hey, do you hear, what they say? Dante, you know, Aligieri, Goes down to hell every day". "To enter heaven is harder. I do not need all that stress. My name is, well, Leonardo. So, hurry up and undress". "Don’t be afraid to remain nude: I won’t offend you, no way. Let me please, well, paint you! Or mold you out of clay". But a proud woman said, laughing: "Shame on you, sir, do you know, I’m a good girl, a Catholic, And, in simple words, no". "Some dirty fashion you’re preaching, Straight into bed taking me. Huh, Leonardo Da Vinci! Some Raphael wannabe!" "Always I despised the harlots. Never you’ll strip me like that. I don’t care if you’re an artist! First, let’s get properly wed". "After the people have seen us In church, I’ll strip, very well. don’t care If you’re a genius, I ain’t stupid myself". "But I’m full of such Inspiration, Can’t turn away from your face!" The artist cried in exultation. Soon after, the wedding took place. That girl, though it wasn’t easy, I’ve met, in the midst of the night It was, of course, Mona Lisa. The one from the painting, alright. To all her girlfriends in Naples She bragged about her success: "See, just like that, I’ve landed A celebrity husband, no less!" Over his work he then struggled, Full of expression and joy. His wife, Joconda, just chuckled: "I got you now, silly boy". Such is the smile’s solution. Let me re-state it again: Women are always laughing At simple-mindness of men.
© Vadim Astrakhan. Translation, 2008
© Vadim Astrakhan. Performance, 2008