Venus by Botticelli, Diadoumenos, Johann Sebastian Bach

Venus by Botticelli, Diadoumenos, Johann Sebastian Bach

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

Perfection has its drawbacks.  It destroys

Descendants in their hopes to make an art

That breathes new beauty.  Follow ups are toys

At best.  Perfected objects stand apart

For centuries cursing what comes after lone

Ideals.  All later sculptures strive against

Impossibility.  Men bravely hone

Ferrara marble but their souls are fenced

Off from the inspiration of a new

Supernity like Venus with her hand

Down low, and Diadoumenos true

To masculinity supremely spanned.

  It is as if God’s Bach deployed the blade

    Of chisel making perfect youth and maid.

Phillip Whidden