Jean Carolus, Belgian
“The One Thing I Don’t Want, Dear, Is a Big, Gaudy Engagement Ring. That’s Soooo Tacky. Plus I’m Afraid It Might Clash With the Lambo,” 1874
Oil on canvas
Follow That Is Priceless on Social Media and GoComics (the Link button):
Click to Follow This Blog or Share This Masterpiece:
Artist info is pointed to in my comment at a prior blog entry.
/// There are questions, when Choosing the Ring,
to consider besides “Is it bling?”
Is it beautifully made?
Worth as much as they paid?
Will her finger turn green from the thing?
/// There’s one thing she especially craved,
that her name in the ring be engraved.
She would then keep this token
should betrothal be broken.
(If groom found out the bride misbehaved.)
/// From his mother she sought validation,
but the woman exudes consternation.
She would only lament
every sou her son spent.
The bride dreamed about retaliation.
/// Antique rings, she would always prefer,
but one drawback would never occur.
They’d all lighten his purse;
this one comes with a curse.
(The curse is: He who bought it for her!)
/// She’d said, “Yes!” and he couldn’t be prouder.
They’d be wed, (if her father allowed her).
When he sold everything
just to purchase her ring,
his betrothed, (like her wig), took a powder.
/// In this shop, everything is high priced.
Babette flirted; the clerk was enticed.
Jean-Claude feigned jealous rage
and this ruse set the stage
for Maman then to pull off the heist.