Seismic island-
A kosmos, a genesis, a muster of men!
Mazy palaces, centrifugal-asymmetrical,
Chiaroscuro of light-wells, porticoes and courts…
Long corridors lead to sudden epiphanies,
Vivid frescoes in bright spacious rooms,
Where man and nature unite-
The veins in a rock;
The details in birds’ wings;
Blue apes playing in gardens;
Flying fish above the waves.
The octopus’s ecstasy
And the dolphin’s shout of joy!
Painted on a limestone sarcophagus:
An animal tethered for sacrifice.
Three longrobed women approach
From the left, to the sound of the pipes;
A priestess in animal skins places
Her hands on the altar of fruit and libations.
A tall pole rises, surmounted by labrys,
Upon which perches a bird,
And nearby a shrine with sacred tree
And horns of consecration.
On the other side, a dead man stands
Before his tomb, receiving offerings
-Two calves and a model boat.
The lyrist plays, and two women
Pour libations into a vessel.
A bull’s head rhyton in black serpentine,
Carved in one piece, intricately etched
By those with the wisdom of snakes,
Able to engrave microscopic scenes
Into precious stones
The moon drops poppy dust into her eyes.
The huntress.The dancer.
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