Dear Senora de Vinci,

Please do forgive me

I write because I feel most disturbed.

Please let me convince you.

Your sons’ pursuits are unhealthy.

You may think it cute.

I do not. It’s not normal.

Madame, set his direction.

Arrange for studies more formal,

Less focused on strange obsessions.

I recently saw his drawings.

I confess they made me flustered and hot.

All those seeds and stamen, open throated blossoms,

Convoluted stems entwining, copulation suggested

All very unseemly. His eyes strip one bare,

Beyond garments and flesh to internals.  

I feel my morality tested. He’s a boy.

Nothing more. This is wrong. I deplore it.

Madame, explore his mind.

Be strict. Be strong and train him.

And why does he jump off walls

Flapping his arms and kicking his legs?

Madame I beg you, restrain him.

With respectful good wishes,

Your neighbour,

Senora Maria Carlucci.  

My dear Senora Carlucci,

Maria, may I?

It is true, Leonardo is strange.

We could arrange to meet and discuss it.

His obsession with flight is a problem

It’s unsafe. It does seem capricious.

Other boys climb on walls to steal fruits,

But Leonardo’s pursuits are honest.

His drawings distract him from mischief.

I don’t know. His father says he is gifted.

We can’t know what our children may be

When they grow.

I am sorry to hear you feel flustered.

A nice cooling bath is soothing.

I do understand your position.

Moral poisons are drawn out by mustard.

There are potions and herbs for your condition.

If you wish, do come, and see me.

In neighbourly friendship,

Senora de V.