Wednesday, February 1, 2012

23. Two Days of Art Museums, Churches and Saints



Over the past few days I have spent my time in museums,
I bought Firenze card for 50 euros, so I can see them.
Most of the museums in Florence will not let you take photos,
So I wrote down notes so I would know.

The Galleria Degli Uffizi and some of the masterpieces of all times,
From 14th century renaissance painters in their prime.
You can see art from Rembrandt, Rubens , Goya, Leonardo,
Lippi, Montegna, Raffaelo and Angelico.
It seems that each artist of that time had to paint,
The  assumption, cruxifiction or coronation of a saint,
All started to look the same, in the deep dark shades
And a change of pace to see the pastels of another grade.
The beautiful painting is Botticelli’s Birth of Venus,
And it seems every sculptor has to carve the naked man’s penis.

The Galleria Del L’Accademia houses David, by Micelangelo
He stands at least 20 feet high and hovers over anyone who goes.

The Museo De Palazzio Vecchio was the government center for seven centuries,
And now houses works of Donatello and Michelangelo’s masterpieces.
The 50 foot ceilings are painted elaborately with gold,
The frescos stand out so bold.

As I wandered the halls of Museo De San Marco’s monastery
I counted over fifty cells, uniformed in size, they varied rarely.
Each had one room entered by the wooden arched cell door
And a different religious fresco on the wall, with a bare floor.
The spent most of their lives painting or writing in that small room
And I couldn’t help think how similar I’ve become, and I felt my doom.
I have lost or given up everything I have owned,
To go on this quest of complete unknown.
To trust whatever happens to me, so that I may heal
And be clear of distractions and write what I feel.
I talk very little, like the vow of silence,
And flashbacks in my life that makes me grimace.

I had some nightmares a few nights ago,
Of when I was younger, married and little did I know.
It is like describing another ones scene,
When I was married to a man that was ever so mean.
I was young and tried to be the perfect wife and mother,
But he threw me some money and slept with another.
When I tried to right what was wrong,
I had everything taken from me as if I did not belong.
I did not get the business or the house,
And, very little alimony for being the spouse.
I had custody of my children, but had to fight,
He did everything to destroy me, with all his might.
Taken from me were all the privileges and luxuries of being a Dr.’s wife,
But worth it was, for peace of mind and to get back my life.
I always feel bad for my children who were young and did not understand,
For their lives were affected when from their father, they were banned.
He married a woman who manipulates lies,
And did everything she could to sever his past ties.
The stories I could tell, would curl your ears,
But I have to remember that I have survived those years.
And, I awoke from my bad dreams of past remembrance,
To know my dreams should be present while I am in Florence.

I realized that I have been to every church to see,
And I have made up for all the missed masses in this century.
I can’t help but feel the Church’s power and greed,
And see how they can plant fear as the seed.
In the paintings there is a contrast of cruelty and sainthood,
You were tortured by priests if not you would
Confess your guilt to a crime unknown
For the privilege of a saintly death, you were shown.
As I walk the halls of the echoing chapels
I feel anger toward the papels.
For all the harm they have done to people
And reaped the gold from the land to build the steeples.
I was raised a Catholic by my grandmother
For my mother was excommunicated because of my father.
Not married in the church, you see,
Was considered a crime, a blasphemy.
To mass we went to say the holy prayers,
But the nuns and priests made you scared.

It was a summer when I was only ten years old.
And to my grandmother, this story I told:
It was during a Catechism swimming trip to the lake.
A priest came up behind me under water and started to rape.
I told her of my shame, horror and fright
But she sent me to confession that very night.
It was after that  when I lost all respect
For the holiness of the church and its affect.

When we moved away the next year,
I tried to go to church, but felt the anger and fear.
Somehow, being alone is bringing to the surface top
Guilt feelings and fears that are beginning to pop!
I have to remember that I do hold a dear love for God and son,
And it is my personal relationship with them, above everyone.
I don’t feel as comfortable in a church dwelling
As I do in a garden, while flowers I am smelling.
That is when I feel the love and power of creation,
When my body vibrates with a  wiser sensation.

Walking up the steps of the Medici home,
I feel so small and all alone.
It snowed today, which is quite rare,
So you couldn’t walk out into the gardens fair.
I looked out and took a photo from the Medici window
And thought of a young woman doing the same, centuries ago.
The wealth, greed and power was so vast,
To the common man’s life, it was a contrast.
You have furniture, jewelry and walls of gold,
Too many to count, too many to hold.
That are all part of the rich family’s life,
Money to commission a painting of your wife.
In one room a painting covered the entire wall
Of lords and pirates fighting , it was over 50 feet tall.
I looked closer at one pirate, and it was Johhny Depp
He has been preserved for years, a secret well-kept!
Walking the streets back to the hotel, so many designer stores,
So much money to spend,  but the rich now have credit cards galore.
I still am fascinated more by archeology sites and grounds
And seeing the relics from BC that were found.
I saw in a glass case an Etruscan button hook from before
And it was exactly like mine on the coat I wore.
Another thing I have never seen in my life
Were a pair of Egyptian socks with stripes.
I passed by the City’s oldest building, the Galileo exhibit
Not knowing what to expect when I went inside to visit.
I would say by far it is the best display
Of the most brilliant minds of our day.
It houses the original instruments of Galileo & Newton,
Of scientists, physicists, mathematicians, and then some.
Telescopes, clocks, navigational devices
Gravitation, combustion and body splices.
The body parts were of mother and child during various birth stages,
And, I recall stories of scientists killing pregnant prostitutes in cages.
All for the name of science and research,
They were killed and preserved at the point of birth.
And yet, this is a house of every science invention
Of every genius’ brilliant mind’s creation.

Websites of the day:
Museo Di Palazzo Vecchio: www.museicivicfiorentini.it/palazzovecchio
Galleria Del L’Accademia:  www.polomuseale.firenze.it/musei/accademia
Galleria D’Arte Moderna:  www.polomuseale.firenze.it/musei/artemoderna
Museo Giardino Di Boboli: www.polomuseale.firenze.it/musei/boboli
Area E Museo Civico Archeologio:  www. museidifiesole.it
Museo Galileo:  www.museogalileo.it



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