April 14th Poem - Kept

KEPT

Donatello’s “The Lion” is cordoned off from viewers in the National Museum of the Bargello, Florence.

Kept from touch

in some intuitive move,

straight on your stone pedestal

in the Donatello Room.

In some intuitive move,

before your gray mane and eyes,

in the Donatello Room,

as if you miss the sculptor’s hands.

Before your gray mane and eyes,

easy in forgotten grace,

as if you miss the sculptor’s hands

or feel them still in stillness.

Easy in forgotten grace,

straight on your stone pedestal,

as if you miss the sculptor’s hands

kept from touch.

from Singing Magic by Barbara Alfaro
© Barbara Alfaro