It made a dazzling display: 
the table set with the meat 
from half of a walnut, a 
fly on a purple grape, the grape 
lit from within and the fly 
bearing small black eggs. 
We gathered round the oval table 
with our knives, starved 
for some inner feast. 
We were not allowed to eat, 
as we had been hired as models 
by the man at our head. 
Days passed, 
in which we grew faint with hunger. 
Later we were told 
that although we did not appear 
on the canvas, 
our eyes devouring these things 
provided the infinite light.