Master Class.

.Master Class

                                          Old Hull, Quebec. November 28, 2006.


That woman's arm,
Monsieur Matisse,
Must be causing her pain,
Said my Aunt Clarice.

Said Matisse to Clarice,
You need fear no fainting;
That isn't a woman,
That is a painting.

To the artist I am
The vibrant, the true,
The real, Madame,
Woman is you!

Cher Matisse, said Clarice,
Do tell me more!
As she sent me away --
Less naive than before.



(Matisse is reputed to have replied to a critical viewer, "That isn't a woman, that is a painting." The complete and authentic story is revealed here for the first time.)