No Smoke Without Fire

By luigi_pagano

Thu, 11 May 2017
  • 1208 reads
2 comments
 
Roman matrons of impeccable breed
expressed outrage in hearing the news
of a  vile attack and unanimously agreed
that it was ignominious and such a shame
yet girls were too easy and many a maid
didn’t much care to lose her good name
when she acquiesced to getting laid.
 
It was inconceivable that a virgin would
be hoodwinked by an unscrupulous cad
and be deprived of her maidenhood.
There were many claims that intercourse
had been achieved without due consent
and women found themselves in a mire
unable to prove they were taken by force.
 
Rumours ensued: no smoke without fire.
But hapless Artemisia was not to blame
for what took place in broad daylight.
She was seventeen, young, pretty, naive
 and was courted by numerous suitors
but although she put up a brave fight
she was raped and abused by her tutor.
 
In the face of adversity, her strength
and resilience withstood the onslaught
of rumours that followed the ordeal.
The setback was the spur to a rebirth,
she immersed herself in her art again
with renewed enthusiasm and great zeal;
painting a catharsis for psychic pain.
 
Her graphic portrayal of powerful women
- shown as protagonists  or equal to men -
seems to suggest she sought vengeance
for the defloration and the maltreatment.
With  resolution and rebellious defiance
she achieved success and reached the top
and became an icon for the female sex.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2017
Certificate 15
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Historical Fiction
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A great bit of history behind this I P Luigi.

Artemisia sounds like a very couragous woman, who dispite her ordeal made good herself and the name of all women.

I learnt something here that I never knew about, so thank you.

Jenny. xx

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

A truly fascinating person, Jenny. She overcame all her troubles and her talent shone after her misandventures. Her career culminated at the court of Charles I of England where she worked with her father.
Thanks for reading and commenting.

Luigi xx