There he stood in all his glory,
stark naked before the world.
A smooth, round stone in his right hand,
resting on his thigh,
his left hand holding a sling
slung over his shoulder,
as he looked out at his target,
a giant of a man,
a stand-in for the enemy army.
He was to avenge his nation,
a mere twelve-year old boy,
a toy by comparison.
It took only one shot
from his sling to
the forehead,
right between the eyes.
He landed in a thud
heard around the nation,
and the hero’s name meant
beloved ~ David.
The statue stood on a pedestal,
larger than life, radiant
in pure, yet flawed marble.
I stood in awe among the crowd,
half-expecting he might step down,
so lifelike he appeared.
I wondered if I struck that
bulging vein in his hand
if he might bleed.
I fell in love with my namesake.
Outside the Academia,
I gathered a set of postcards
with various views
around the marble marvel,
and then pored over the
array of replica souvenirs
until I found one true to original.
Fifty-eight years later,
he still stands on my desk,
stark naked
in all his glory!
djbiviano 