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"Vermeer's Little Girl"
by Adam Zagajewski

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"...forbearance, perhaps pity."

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Vermeer's little girl, now famous watches me. A pearl watches me. The lips of Vermeer's little girl are red, moist, and shining. Oh Vermeer's little girl, oh pearl, blue turban: you are all light and I am made of shadow. Light looks down on shadow with forbearance, perhaps pity.