The Classical Head

I'm not much for Picasso---
Yet, my favorite portrait is by Picasso.

It is a woman's head---
The classical head---
Of Olga's, with her Auburn locks
And sumptuous face.
Round, strong jawed,
But thin jawed,
Almost ovular
And not circular...
A strand of hair frames her
In the way of an attractive woman
With her justified sprezzatura. 
Messy, unkept, with a content crease on her lips.
Her eyes are dovey,
And her whole face is drawn
With, I think it is, a couple of threads of pencil.

The artist could, in fact,
Draw a beautiful shape---
The portrait of feminine beauty---
In only three or four masterstrokes of his brush.

How I do hate making poetry like this---
Though, in spirit of Picasso,
I shall make it like this.

I am more of a Raphael---
But like Picasso did,
I can show my proficiency in the era's conventions.