17 Michelangelo To Tatiana When stones have made the deeper scratches Upon his body And across his face -- No longer soft, He gives them back the scrapes And lays his face down in the pavement. He sees not only in the mirrors That people step upon His stony face, But can't erase it -- cannot get away From his relief of joy And fear. When I do step upon His scratches, He always gives me back The deeper scrape And stays beneath to mirror me my pain -- To make me stone Beyond my aging.







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IRENE CÆSAR
Confined Verse
Collected Poems

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