Michael Curtis
Mortal Instruments
Saw you first at Mass in Notre Dame
through blue plainsong and waves of incense
the Rose Window unravelling atheism
the drunk priest tripping on the steps.
Spied you before lunch in the Marais
shadowing that woman behind a plane tree
one eye open, the other obscure brown
caught between compassion and contempt.
In the museum you hop-scotched frets
and fractured fingerboard, then disappeared
like thin oils into the thirsty grain
and I wondered where you’d surface next
but never expected to find you spread
across a canvas of blood, huge bathers
hugging you to distended limbs
and extending you enormous elbows.
Everyone, of course, gave you refuge
moved over, made room for you to hide
left me looking at the women wanting
to be looked at, under the bronze pram.
Very soon I’ll come over to your side
my legs setting solid on the plinth
my shoulders growing marble wings
my mouth happily forgetting words.
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