Thursday 20 January 2011

Underground Angel


(Scroll down two entries for Magpie 49)

Angel

A shaft of sunlight luminous and beatific
Streams from the heavens through a concrete skylight
Illuminating a dark underground cavern.
A scene from a medieval Christian painting
Mary at the foot of the cross
Christ’s ascension into heaven .

A muscled young man
Tattoo of a dragon on one shoulder
A floral tribute to a former lover on the other
Framed by a blue navvy’s singlet
Stretched across his glowing chest.
He is bent over a throbbing pump
Diesel fumes spewing into the dark basement.
Thighs painted with river mud
A living David
A tribute to Michelangelo.
He works unaware of his holy status
Intent only on his task.
Muck out this putrid mess before sundown.

It’s a scene watched in silence
By a small group of worshippers
Women mainly, entranced by this heavenly angel
A gift from god on this miserable day
In the midst of this devastating flood.
His straining back his rippling arms
Wrestle his equipment into its final spot
And he delivers on his promise.

Only then does he look up
To see the shy smiles
of a greek chorus of mothers and daughters
as the suns sinks
and the halo remains forever.

5 comments:

Unspoken said...

So you and I were both on the same train of thought then :). As for how my guy perceives himself undressed? Perhaps not as I do. But truly, I find him to be perfection in his own right. That's love. ;). He's the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. Hence, the Michelangelo's David reference. I LOVE that you had the same thought about the form of a man. men do not get enough glory for what they are :).

Jennifer said...

I love how you compare him to the beauty of Michelangelo's David. And it's true - the human spirit, working to rise above tragedy and difficulty, the striving - THAT is beauty.

You've outdone yourself.

Maude Lynn said...

This is absolutely stunning.

Tess Kincaid said...

Powerful. I savored the living David. x

{S.T.U.F.F.} said...

powerful, indeed!

P.S.
CONGRATS! on winning THE EVERYDAY GODDESS AWARD !