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Isabel Ballan

Venus wounded by a rose’s thorn—Italian, 1500-1550



Venus Wounded by a Rose’s Thorn, 1500-1550

All day you are brilliant out of yourself


resplendent.


Now night coming


there is a fold into which you fold


curving yourself around your light.




In the reflection caught


in your toes as you stretch


down to your center


there is no face


no eyes.



O but the rose


the rose.


More beautiful even than you


it made you taste ashes


spit out ashes


and dream of fruit of the vine.


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