His Last Picture
(After The Martyrdom of St Ursula)
In a courtyard off Spacconapoli there’s a Madonelle,
outdoor shrine with a pale figurine, withered flowers.
He emerges at nightfall, lights a solitary votive candle,
prostrates himself at her scuffed toes. Some swear
the Virgin’s eyes’ weep, claim she performs miracles,
wards off evil, can make a dead bouquet re-flower.
Sick with recurrent malaria, gashed eye that won’t heal,
he begs salvation from the impassive Madonna
Maria salvami! The papier-maché Madonelle rolls
her eyes, a dry tear trickles into his painting – Ursula,
arrow in her chest for defying a man similarly vengeful,
homicidal. His eyes narrow, travel straight through her.
Julian Bishop’s first collection of eco poems called We Saw It All Happen was published in 2023 by Fly On The Wall Press. He’s worked for many years as both reporter and producer with the BBC and also on ITV’s News At Ten. Many of his poems are based on news stories. He’s currently working on a collection of poems about the Italian painter Caravaggio. X: @julianbpoet website: julianbishoppoet.com