Gazing at an unfinished sculpture by Michelangelo can’t help but make you think of what-ifs and untapped potential…

Vidian’s remix of my poem The Prisoner. As well as the audio poem, he’s managed to skillfully incorporate a whole lot of samples of my shakuhachi, ukulele and harmonica, for which I thank him.

The Prisoner

Galleria d’Accademie, Firenze

March, 2003

 

just steps from David ‘s perfect form

humanity’s epitome             determined  gaze

tendonned hands  and             muscled flesh

 

it stands

love’s labor                                                lost.

 

five hundred years      unfinished still

roughhewn  by Michelangelo

 

Atlas.

 

 

pressing upward powerfully

outwardly    forever  doomed

faceless white translucent flesh

 

 

eternity denies parole

incarcerated  in Carrara

halflife                        halfdeath

halfchiselled                                 marble

 

 

as David

we aspire to perfection

 

but most of us

locked potential                          prisoners

bearing world’s weight             on rough shoulders

 

are Atlas.

 

© rob walker.

sparrow in an airport/ New Poets Ten, Friendly Street, 2005.

ISBN 1 86254 670 3

 

(if you haven’t worked it out already, click on “Atlas” at the top to hear the composition.)