Daphne Schiller
The Martyrdom of St Sebastian
(painting by Giovanni del Biondo)
Here is Sebastian
feathered by arrows.
An air-treading angel
carries his crown.
His hands are tied.
His halo’s forming already.
The hunters are well turned out
in orange, yellow and blue.
They sport pointed beards or neat braids.
One wears ringlets. Nonchalantly
they shoot their slender darts
into an easy target
lashed to a cross. This
is their moment. They pose
conscious of history.
The painting was meant
to inspire contemplation,
But all I can feel is dismay
for long-nosed Sebastian with his gloomy beard
fatally skewered by a frivolous gang
of hair-freaks and fashionistas.
Page(s) 9
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