Standing O

GismondaSarah Bernhardt by Alphonse Mucha

Standing O

Directed towards proscenium,

at curtain call, like xenium*…

the crowd goes wild; a fierce tableau

of fan-filled cheers: the Standing O.

Performers bow with practiced grace

while pleasure shows upon each face.

The audience, they now bestow

upon the cast, a Standing O.

It was, I swear, performance art

of highest level in each part.

The accolade for such a show?

Applause and then some...Standing O.

So on my feet, I wish I were

thus able to myself transfer

my spirit from my seat and row.

My fantasy?  That Standing O.

###

Notes:  The poetic form is Kyrielle.  The poem was inspired by today's prompt of 'Standing Ovation', graciously provided for by Sunday Scribblings. 

'Xenium' means a gift or present given to a stranger or a guest.

Alphonse Mucha is one of my all-time favorite artists, and as I think I may have mentioned in an earlier post, I absolutely adore Art Nouveau and the artists from La Belle Epoque.  

As a child, because I had a tendency to be rather dramatic on occasion (okay - more than just occasionally!) my grandmother often teased me [lovingly] by calling me Sarah Heartburn.  I took it as a huge compliment.