MOTHER AND CHILD

I've always been fascinated by the work of Michelangelo, especially how one individual could be so divinely talented. The fresco on the roof of the Sistine Chapel is amazing, but it's his 'La Pieta' which is truly sublime.

This is the only work of Michelangelo's that he ever signed. If you look closely at the carved leather strap going from right to left across Mary's shoulder, you'll see his name written in block print.

Why did Michelangelo sign this work over all others? I'll let art historians try to figure that out. What I'm interested in is his inspiration. How did he know what he'd find in that perfect block of marble ? Which brings me to my next poem--


MOTHER AND CHILD


The sculptor touched the large block he was to carve,
Carrara marble, the best in the world.
It was dawn, the time of day when marble awakes,
and man must judge the quality of the stone—

“Il marmo e sano,” the sculptor murmured,
“The marble is sound.”

Inside the white rock, a thousand voices cried out:
Venus, Apollo, Dionysus and even baby Cupid—
all speaking eloquently,
all begging for existence.

The sculptor listened to the stone,
waiting for their arguments to cease,
waiting for the right sound to emerge.

As the sun rose on the second day,
the sculptor heard a woman crying from deep inside the block.

He touched the marble delicately before falling to his knees.

“Yes,” he whispered reverently, “I thought you might be here.”

-- Noah Evslin