The gull on the saint’s head
on Bernini’s colonnade
muses on sainthood and tourism
and the impermanence of stone.
Below her talons
the saint
is silent.
These great-columned arms
have embraced the impermanence
of human folly,
war and triumph–
and one solitary pope,
in a time of pandemic,
walking in silent rainfall
to pray.
The splash of the fountains
calls her back to the sea.
7 thoughts on "The gull on the saint’s head"
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I really like the word how “impermanence” and it’s castings flow through a sculpture poem. works well in this and the last two lines, yum.
Agree with Coleman re how impermanence and its castings flow. Brilliant!
And you land this poem well with:
The splash of the fountains
calls her back to the sea.
I love the way the poem lands, too. You have depicted impermanence so beautifully there.i like the wide scope of this poem.
Beautiful!
love the gull’s movement from the height of the sculpture to the rain falling on the walking pope to the water splashing on the gull who then flies back to sea. the poem’s perspective reminds me of “Ozymandias”
Thanks, all, for the helpful comments!
The impermanence of stone gives me something to ponder.