What's Mona Lisa Got to Smile About (originally published in the Slightly Off-Beat Poets Anthology "Many Voices ~ One Stage")

 
What’sMona Lista Got to Smile About Anyway?
           
What’s Mona Lisa got to smile about, anyway?
I bet Leonardo was no treat to be around.
I bet he never cared to hear what she had to say
 
About the day’s popular sonnets, or satirical plays,
Or even whatever hot gossip had been making the rounds.
So, what did Mona Lisa have to smile about, anyway?
 
If a modern artist were to paint her today
There’d be an accompanying video with stereo sound
So, we’d have permanent record of what she had to say.
 
If I could travel back to those days, I’d be willing to pay
Leonardo in Dollars or Euros or Kroners or Pounds,
To ask “Hey, what was she smiling about, anyway?”
 
Instead, she sits frozen, and Leonardo’s gone away
As thousands of tourists stand silently ‘round
As if expectantly waiting to hear what she’ll say;
 
Perhaps something witty or silly, or suitably gay.
But not one of them yet has ever found
What Mona Lisa’s got to smile about, anyway,
Or if she ever had anything interesting to say.