Thomas Heard Poetry (Ivory Galatea)

Ivory Galatea

Flawless skin of ivory pale,
Bloodied rubies, her open lips,
Form perfect to the last detail
Beauty to all women outstrip

With golden hair all honey sweet.
Given by Goddess to carver ensnared
Pygmalion life's work complete
When together with his Galatea paired.

But pale ivory never turns to rust
Nor falls into the grave.
Pygmalion's flesh long to the dust
While still she has the life he gave.

And across the endless span of years
She works with blood and clay
Or carving marble with her tears
Her loneliness to allay
But no Goddess these entreaties hears
From lovely, lonely, ivory Galatea.

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