in late afternoon he came to me
i saw him standing in the mirror
female david - with his head up high -
for he did not stand before me as venus
but as the harpist who fought goliath alone
- or so they say, most do not believe it -
who seduced bathsheba and who was forgiven
for he was so loved. i saw him look to me
- how so? - i ask, but he is clearly still
there - looking back at me - and he says
- she says -
- if i could borrow your body just for a while
you know, to manifest myself
to my subjects - for lord did not let me
build a temple in jerusalem
- but that was long ago - i say and he smiles
she smiles and i say
- but you have such a pretty statue -
everyone sees you still - and so alive,
so youthful - what else do you want -
- yes, but when master michelangelo - he says
- he could have never done it quite right -
you know - she says - he was not that good
at sculpting women - for he was flawed
- not a flaw - i protest and he says
- but that was long ago - and i smile
- yes, but it would last - i say -
even if not as long as your other statue
- yes, but think - she says - what if i
made you the king instead and the crowds -
- what if the crowds cheered -
- but i am talentless - i say and he says
- oh, he also said so - the one
who sculpted me last time - now silence
- but what about the goliath?
- oh, he can stay - he has to stay -
she says - wouldn't be a good story
so was when we talked that day
me and david who seduced bathsheba
- or so they say, and all believe it -
that one day late in the afternoon