The Vatican Exhibit
After a visit to the museum, February 12, 1984
Who hides behind the ragged
Edges of the Mask
Beckoning from the bits
Of mud and straw?
Guarded? Which side is guarded
by the Ghostly-lighted glass cage?
Visitors shrink from the stare
Of the whitewashed bark.
Empty round holes that see
Everything.
Vestiges of Idolatry! Imagine
Believing in such things they
Laugh nervously, clutching
Their own talismans
Around them. Layers
Of labels and Letters and price tags.
Round mouth too small for words
Emits a howl.
Spirit breath flutters
Against the glass.
Chilled, the visitors hurry on
Filing into the next
Room and the comfort
Of Angels and Gold.
Guided by odors of sacrifice,
Fire and flint.
I slip through the glass.
Chanting mimics my heartbeat.
I press my face into the
Ancient wood. It fits.
