Today I am sharing a poem I wrote about this painting by Omar Rayyan called Contessa With Squid. I first saw this painting at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, it was displayed in the cephalopod exhibit and as soon as I laid eyes on it I was mesmerized. I loved it more than looking at the real animals in the tanks that I am usually spellbound by. I took note of the artist and looked him up when I got home. I would love to have a print of the Contessa on my wall.

You can find more information about Omar Rayyan and his works here: Studio Rayyan:: The Art of Omar Rayyan

Take a moment to allow the Contessa to stare deeply into your soul, then keep scrolling to read my poem.

The wife of Count Octopus
of the Mediterranean
is royal and dutiful.

Elegantly dressed,
she poses for the portraitist on land,
cradling her emotional support animal.

The effort it takes to hold her tentacles
in the air is exhausting.
He asks, “Is this your pet or your baby?”

Her buoyant giggle does not
answer his question,
the cuttlefish squirms and drips.

She wants to know when she can relax.
Her tentacles frighten the man,
her gentle eyes calm him.

Her parts gleam and squish,
he tries not to seem disgusted.
He does not know if she can be offended.

How can a painting live in the sea?
She tells him it is for her Mother
who is human and lives in Montenegro.

He wonders how
an abomination like her
can exist.

As if she read his mind she tells him
“When I was born, my father
threw me into the sea.”

Such a cruel father!

“He knew I was not his,
I belonged in the blue depths,
I belonged with the royalty of the ocean.”

Her tentacles slowly fall.
They frame her face and neck
almost like real hair.

The Contessa confesses,
“I am tired, and I am having a hard time breathing.”
The portraitist tells her they can finish another day.

Count Octopus is waiting for her in the tidal pools.

Sincerely Yours,
Jen

Okayest Jen and her Leading Man after a swim in the waves, probably with some squid swimming nearby.