Thursday, March 27, 2008

Imperia

Es ist alles eitel...

Oh, Madame Konstanz with your coy smile,
What does go on behind those steely eyes
You stand guard in the harbour
Looking out across Bodensee,
Flaunting your sex for one and all to see
A noble stance, for a mere courtesan
As you raise your hands with pride,
Naked prince in right and pope in left
Such raw display of sweet dominion over power.

29 comments:

thailandchani said...

Beautiful!

JBelle said...

I have never been to Germany and am really hankering to go. What parts have you particularly enjoyed and what parts are not particularly important on your first visit?

JBelle said...

And

I really do like Madame Konstanz' stance on life!

The Fool said...

H'lo Nomad. I came across Imperia when I was searching the net for statuary in Konstanz after your recent post. There was a detail of the pope and the prince included, and they make for the most wonderful grisly lil' caricatures of church and state. How well church and state have played to the coutesan over time, eh? One needn't look far examples. Thank you for sharing...and a doff of the hat to you for your take on Imperia.

Carla said...

Chani, Thanks.

JBelle, Germany is a lovely country and there is no way that you can see all that you really must in one visit. Along the Rhine is magical (lovely scenery, castles, etc), Rothenburg am der Tauber is about the best preserved medieval city in all of Germany, it's like being in a fairytale, really a must see. I liked the south, Berchtesgaden and Konstanz (beautiful alps, wine country around Konstanz). Hamburg is very nice in the north...the people there are incredibly friendly. And of course the little Freisian islands of Amram and Fohr are new favorites...quiet, away from the hustle and bustle, but dreamy, dreamy landscape. If you would like more particulars, let me know. Truly, I found the people so friendly, that I pretty much enjoyed everywhere that I visited.

Carla said...

JBelle, Yes, Madame Konstanz certainly knows how to play the cards in her favour.

Fool, The pope and prince really are grisly caricatures sitting there in their pathetic nakedness. It almost reminded me of the Emperor with no clothes...I guess it's pretty much the same thing.

Paul said...

Ah, Konstanz...Insel Reichenau...the flower island of Mainau...Jacobsbaden...hey, is the Inselhotel still open?

Fine poem.

Paul said...

http://singlemanwriting.blogspot.com/2005/12/exchanging-places-konstanz-part-1.html

Anonymous said...

Well this is a bit beyond my knowledge of Germany, but interesting reading and I did learn a few things from the poem and the comments. What a sheltered little life I lead.

Annie Wicking said...

Wonderful, Carla!

Thank you for sharing this with us.

She's a fine looking lady.

Best wishes,

Annie

Fuser said...

"Such raw display of sweet dominion over power"...
Nicely put.
I like when not more that two or three words mingle and blend together to deliver a bold concept.

Good night and good luck.

PS. Thank you Fool: "doff of the hat". I have been looking for such an expression for so long!

Carla said...

Hi Paul, Thanks for dropping by and for leaving me a link. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure about the Inselhotel. But it is a lovely area, isn't it?

Dawn, I probably lead a sheltered life too, if it makes you feel any better. The statue is very interesting...my picture is from quite a distance, but I know there are better ones on the net...it all becomes fairly obvious when you see the statue close up. The little men in her hands really are caricatures.

Carla said...

Annie, She certainly is...and she also really knows how to take advantage of the situation.

Thanks Fede, how was your trip? I see you're back online.

Steffi said...

Konstanz is a very beautiful place on the Bodensee.Unfortunately I was still never there.But I know it´s a nice area of Germany.

Carla said...

Steffi, It's a very beautiful area of Germany. The islands around there are so nice with so many flowers. It really liked it.

Ed & Jeanne said...

Very Nice Carla.

ps - I keep hoping that fashion will take off...

Anonymous said...

Very nice. I've never seen a picture of Madame Konstanz before. Mind you there are a lot of things I haven't seen before.

Simon said...

Wonderful words.

Thank you, Carla. I will be going to Germany in September, and this post gives a taste of the splendid sights I might encounter.

Carla said...

VE, And exactly whose fashion are you talking about...the nude princes and pope's or Madame Konstanz' semi negligee atire?

Sirdar, I don't know that she's officially called Madame Konstanz...that's simply what I call her.

Carla said...

Simon, Where in Germany are you off to? There are so many lovely things to see there.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Simon said...

I'm spending a few days in the hustle and bustle of Berlin, before going to Kirchberg in Austria for a conference on my favourite philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Berlin sight-seeing recommendations from a seasoned traveller such as yourself will be gratefully received.
:)

Anonymous said...

Captivating of such a poem and of the charm within such a delightful photo.

Ed & Jeanne said...

The nude princess of course! ;)

Carla said...

Simon, I haven't yet been to Berlin, but it's on the list. Perhaps you'll be giving me advice on what to see there.

Peter, Thank you.

Carla said...

VE, Ya, don't see too many nude princesses roaming about these day. But you know, they say fashion always comes back around at some point.

Writer in Residence said...

Hey Carla, I have decided to return to 'blogspot' and have therefore closed my wordpress etc accounts..

I shall be making changes to my new blogspot - but will be using this blog - forever (fingers crossed)...

Carla said...

Peter, I hope this blog works out well for you this time. I'm not quite sure how you find the time to change around. I find it takes me a great deal of time when I try to figure out how to make small changes. In any case, I look forward to checking out the new blog.

Writer in Residence said...

Alas it is the uncertainty of my mind - that allows the midnight oil to burn .... of change.

Hopefully my mind shall be tamed to a more leisurely pursuit with 'blogspot'.

Thank you for your good wishes and look forward to your visiting...