Caged

               Caged

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem 

Egyptian royalty wore strict strokes round

Each eye—in life and death—for force.  This fence

In life was formed of grace.  The kohl that crowned

The edge of lids used ground down ore to tense

For strength the contents of the cage.  This ore

Was dark galena made to Mesdemet

And caused the eyes to find a black rapport

With immortality.  Kohl never met

Eternity but both were close to green

Of malachite long mined in Sinai

Then turned to dust and mixed with gum to preen

A queen’s lids and to deify her eye.

  This makeup caused a power inside taut gems

    Enough to make the eyes two diadems.

Phillip Whidden