Peder Severin Krøyer, Norwegian
“…She Was 29, Smelled of Lilacs, and If I Can Read My Handwriting, Preferred Reverse Cowgirl. Now That Does It For the H’s. Do You Really Want To Hear the Rest of My Little Black Book?,” 1885
Oil on canvas
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/// Emil Poulsen earned Danish acclaim.
Theatre acting (as lead) brought him fame.
His wife, with loving eyes,
watches him memorize
Krøyer’s painting’s absurdly long name:
“Double Portrait of Royal Theatre Actor Emil Poulsen (1842-1911)
and his Wife Anna, born Næser (1849-1934), 1885”
/// It had come as a shocking surprise
that the painter would dare to surmise
in the portrait’s full title
certain details so vital—
like the year of each spouse’s demise!
/// Poulsen called on the skills acting brings
to help memorize words in long strings.
Like the very long list
of names he might have missed
on his wedding decree, of all things:
“Anna Augusta Dorothea Winzentine Margrethe Næser Poulsen,
daughter of Winzentine Henriette Benedictine Albertine Kirkerup v. Schønberg”
/// Anna learned something on her first date
with this icon, respected and great.
He was patient and fair,
smart, and something more rare:
A good-looking stage actor who’s straight!