The Bones of the Foot, and the Shoulder, by Bert Molsom

The Bones of the Foot, and Shoulder, by Leonardo Da Vinci (Italy) 1511

The Bones of the Foot, and the Shoulder

Charged to finish Agostino's statue
he looked for a youth of shape and vigour
with the strength to stand perfectly balanced
and make his David perfect.

He chose me. I became respected,
celebrated, my fame a reflection
of the artist's illumination. Finished,
David will remain forever in the light.

I slid, unneeded, into anonymous dark.
No-one saw my fall. My bones un-fleshed
for the pen of the anatomist.
In death I have recovered my fame,

my images admired by thousands,
though my name is lost.

Bert Molsom

Bert Molsom retired early to become an apprentice poet, fully understanding apprenticeships last a long time! He has been long-listed for the Bridport Prize, won Poetry on Loan 2016 and his work has been published by Anthropocene and Ink, Sweat and Tears.