I used to stand as far back as possible.
This little trick served me well --
strolling by the Arno, admiring Leonardo's latest fresco,
feeding pigeons in the piazza -- no one suspected my actual size,
so long as I kept myself in the distance. Mother would
whisper as I left for market, “Remember, Lucia,
the farther away you are the smaller you'll appear.”
These days I'm much more confident.
No longer concealed at the backs of landscapes or in
the distant pasture with the sheep.
I've come out of the forest where
I'd hidden among the specks of trees
I'm glad to be the subject of the composition!
In the foreground of the still life!
On the table in front of the bowl of fruit!
Now that I actually am smaller, I have a new perspective.
Watch me disrobe. Paint me in full detail.
Make me larger than life.