Me and the Mrs.

Waves of expression
wash across your face
the wind brushes your hair
the mist glosses your smile
and the backdrop seascape
competes for
the casual cinematographer
of my gaze
and yet I neither
propose marriage nor a toast
or in a seductive inflection
test your boundaries
with an indiscreet suggestion
instead I seize this stolen moment
so that it will last my whole life
and I take a selfie with you
though you remain
someone else’s wife

Ivan Jenson is a fine artist, novelist and popular contemporary poet who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His artwork was featured in Art in America, Art News, and Interview, and has sold at auction at Christie’s. Ivan was commissioned by Absolut Vodka to make a painting titled Absolut Jenson for the brand’s national ad campaign. His Absolut paintings are in the collection of the Spiritmusuem, the museum of spirits in Stockholm, Sweden.

Ivan’s painting of the “Marlboro Man” was collected by the Philip Morris corporation. Ivan was commissioned to paint the final portrait of the late Malcolm Forbes. Ivan has written two novels, Dead Artist and Seeing Soriah, both of which illustrate the creative and often dramatic lives of artists. Ivan’s poetry is widely published (with over 600 poems published in the US, the UK and Europe) in a variety of literary media. A book of Ivan’s poetry was recently published by Hen House Press, titled Media Child and Other Poems, which can be acquired on Amazon. Two novels by Ivan entitled Marketing Mia and Erotic Rights have been published in hardcover. Ivan’s novel, Gypsies of New Rochelle, is now available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.

Ivan’s new romantic thriller novel The Murderess will be published in the summer of 2021 by Dark Edge Press, UK. Ivan’s website is: https://www.ivanjenson.com.