Godmaker
by Michelle Hartman


____For Dr. H. Ibrahim Salih

parades banquets
mark achievements
bronze plaques
for our glorious leaders

yet none notice
the quiet lyceum
where enigmatic
craftsman
far from home
forms models from
lowly earth
chisel against
ingrained foible
buff flaws from
marble patina
wings for a Mercury
bow for a Diana
sculpts with
keen eye
impassioned hand
joined by fiery drive
to engrave an eternal
message on
this transitory vessel

efforts never
attributed to this
unknown
Titan who
chips away that
which is not god






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