Hard Fruit

Or, the Philosophical Reflections of Michaelangelo




Take Apart thy Enemy
with Human Thought destroy the stone,
pull Mankind from Marble!

Dismantle thy Predecessor
with Rigid Hand instruct the staff,
leave Lechery in Dalliance!

Unearth thy Rotted Father
with Learned Eye commit the form,
draw Truth from basest Ivory!

Break thy Sweet Restraint
with Mannered Men embrace the day,
take Rigour in Posterity!