She's a good mate of the Mona Lisa. Both have endured so many stares over the years. It's weary being on a pedestal. They even lopped off her limbs to make her fit into the museum. Ah, Venus, goddess of love of the doughty Roman. Berlusconi has stepped down. Even he is feeling the pressure of the public gaze!

I thought of two very different images while reading this poem... the first image was from a story I recently heard about someone feeling overwhelmed and standing with their head bowed under the weight of his burden. A man entered the elevator where this overwhelmed man stood and quietly commented that when he felt such burden, he found it helpful to look up... up to the one who knows us best.

The second image was brought by your second to the last stanza and made me think of prayer... how even in our times of greatest grief and trial, we can be lifted and raised through prayer.

I know that wasn't really what your poem was about, but it hurts to think of how love can shoot us full of holes and bring disfigurement...maybe just too close to home right now. :)

Hugs,
Cryssa

this is surreal and resonates....awesome. Morgan

Strong imagery, and I love the irony of her being inert art, yet she's still "wild and impulsive". Great insight at the end, as well.
Sheila

Oh, when our moony-eyes get a stigmatism... shall we call it postamoromortumoptic vision? And though I know--I really know--that plain truth is far more beautiful than its distorted cousins, I can't help but silently half-hope for that darling man of mine to wear his love-glasses less often. --Charlie

HMMMM...I LIKE THIS KATE. I SUPPOSE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW 'VENUS DE MILOS OUT THERE...ALL OVER THE WORLD. CERTAINLY A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT WHEN ONE USES ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SCULPTURES IN THE WORLD AS A COMPARISON TO HUMAN NATURE. WELL DONE AND ENJOYED. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS & FAITH...
JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

Hits the heart like a fist. Always the best poetry in your den Kate.

Wonderful precision and great observation in this, Kate! I love those long arms you choose to begin with... and also the end! I fully agree with Christine Tsen's comment about the controlled irony and awareness. :)

Axilea

Slam-dunk !!
*:)*:)*:)*:)
*:)

I like the way you play, Kate. You remind me that
increasingly I prefer my love in retrospect. -gene.

oh so true!

Oh ouch...even the most revered, the most perfect is vulnerable, what sayeth that for us women? Excellent write Kate..xxxCh'erie

great stuff, Kate ... luv this poem ... a poem i can certainly put my arms around ...

This is an incredible poem, such controlled irony, such awareness!
Really a brilliant study of how we are born and yet dying at the same time, how we love and yet how much disfigurement we undergo in the meantime, because we are in this earthbound state of being.
Love,
Chris

Kate, I believe that her naked torso enabled her to be identified as Aphrodite, (Roman Venus), goddess of love and beauty! The sculptor was seeking to depict divine beauty! A eternal quest for Beauty; a timeless masterpiece. You have brought us a new viewpoint of this masterpiece. As always your interpretations are superb!!

Much peace, love and light,
Amber

Venus, what a creative metaphor for the cycle of life and love Kate! You know, it is the last stanza that reaches out and shakes me with reality. "love: so often perfect in retrospect, so often too, a lingering disfigurement". You certainly did get this all just so perfectly said. I bid you love and peace my dear friend. Jon Michael

A most interesting take on Love.

HAHAHA, and how often do arms get in the way.
Crazily good!

You make it personal, Kate,
and very personable..once full love,
now partial memory and mystery
and that 'lingering disfigurement'
is a calling card, a prophecy, an inevitability.

John

WoW! WoW2!

A grabber. Kick ass shock. My kinda writing, Kate. I daresay there have been more "limbs are torn and rent, / torso buckled; / head bowed, / neck bent." than there have been that wonderful,m gushing, almost sickening kind of love the romantics go on and on about. For every gushy line there are three lines left out that tell the real story.

Yep. I loved this.