On a narrow hallway off to the left of the main stage, a row of private pleasure booth doors swing open and closed. Clicks of tokens in slots and glances of women adjusting themselves between customers.

She leans back; has a moment or two to herself. In the gallery of waist-down Mona Lisas, a pause before the next beholder.

anticipating
the old master
exhibition

Lorraine A Padden

* The title is taken from Shakespeare Sonnet V