Evan Shaw
03-13-2013, 07:04 PM
An old sculptor carves white marble, while all his students marvel.
Chipping away, stirring till it's released,
an image resides within. Piece after piece,
he doesn't cease.
A focal point filled, about to burst. Just him
and the statue, immersed. Finally, it takes
final form. He steps back, places his
chisel on a table, and
the room reappears.
The first apprentice approaches,
handing him a towel, the master
wipes it down. Inspecting
it for flaws, none to be found.
"Like a blacksmith with an axe,
your concentration will sharpen,
with your muse, if you chase her.
Her calls, my apprentice, her calls."
Suddenly the Pope enters, furious at
what is before him
"Abomination! This is not your commissioned
work. The heavens tremble above. Wipe off that smirk!"
"Athena is righteous as anyone. Her glory
ought to be honored. You may crush the statue,
but her spirit will endure."
"Heretic, you are! No Greek walked on water. Forget her!
That statue will never see
the light of day!"
The Pope storms out
of the studio. The sculptor
looks to his students
"Waver not, in the face of persecution. Hold fast
to what you value, a burned book is never lost,
even blazing fire cannot take it. Now return to work,
I must go hide Athena's likeness."
Chipping away, stirring till it's released,
an image resides within. Piece after piece,
he doesn't cease.
A focal point filled, about to burst. Just him
and the statue, immersed. Finally, it takes
final form. He steps back, places his
chisel on a table, and
the room reappears.
The first apprentice approaches,
handing him a towel, the master
wipes it down. Inspecting
it for flaws, none to be found.
"Like a blacksmith with an axe,
your concentration will sharpen,
with your muse, if you chase her.
Her calls, my apprentice, her calls."
Suddenly the Pope enters, furious at
what is before him
"Abomination! This is not your commissioned
work. The heavens tremble above. Wipe off that smirk!"
"Athena is righteous as anyone. Her glory
ought to be honored. You may crush the statue,
but her spirit will endure."
"Heretic, you are! No Greek walked on water. Forget her!
That statue will never see
the light of day!"
The Pope storms out
of the studio. The sculptor
looks to his students
"Waver not, in the face of persecution. Hold fast
to what you value, a burned book is never lost,
even blazing fire cannot take it. Now return to work,
I must go hide Athena's likeness."