Christ vs. Apollo
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
If true Apollo’s temple has been crushed
By buildings of the Vatican, the ground
Of Lord Apollo’s prophecies now hushed
By singing in the Sistine choir, and drowned
Out by incensed chanting, does that mean
The beauty of the sun god halts, banished?
Has marble loveliness of muscles lean
In contraposto fall away, vanished?
Apollo lives where Jesus fails to see
The purpose of perfection in that shape.
Those biceps and those thighs speak their decree
Among the curls that gather on that nape.
…No pope has ever been that beautiful.
….Apollo poses. We feel dutiful.