Kouros

I went to see

Newly acquired

Archaic stone kouros

Displayed horizontally

In museum anteroom.

It was twilight; could have been

      moonlight,

Illumination fell over statue's form,

Like the wake of a rushing deity.

Noble youth was alert,

His eyes--sequestered orbs--

Viewed distances,

Or another exquisite being.

Every part of kouros was refined:

Styled ringlets of hair,

His hands, abdominal muscles,

Genitals, walking gait,

And calves angular as greaves.

Bare feet contained motion,

But on alcove's bed-like plinth,

They pointed to stars.

Years later

Kouros is deemed fake,

A perfect forgery,

The weathered crust on torso,

Once sign of authenticity,

Is chemical ruse;

Mushroom juice brushed

Onto carved surface, had etched

Its Thasian stone.

But I remember still

That spectacular figure supine

In chambered light,

His eternal bow of smile

Giving forth, giving forth,

Even.

Laura Stickney 2023

Notes:

A kouros is an archaic greek 

statue of a nude male youth.

greaves-- Leg armor worn below the knees

Thasian stone-- marble from Greek island

of Thassos.

photo: Kouros statue, about 530 B.C., or

modern forgery, marble, J.P. Getty Museum