Ghairo Daniels Poet Ekphrasis

Atlas-Prisoner : Michelangelo Buonarroti : 1530-1534

how you stand heroic nude, a primordial Titan
struggling twisting 
writhing turning 
wrestling emotionally 
to free yourself from excess marble or
was it from the materiality of your Being ?

like your genius creator
carrying unearthly weight of renaissance
emerging ——intentional 
stony block burden on your Atlas shoulders encased toil of psyche for expression 
from dark unconsciousness
 
head not birthed, allegorically within 
cold stone, Carrara gifted  
ambition inexpressible 

Atlas-slave ___  inert intelligence of a 
prisoner pushing up and down
 anyway to unclench
 weight of creation, worlds on shoulders 
eyes, ears, lips… absent or bunked or aborted 

non-finito is this carving —- Buonarroti’s fourth slave-prisoner…four to depict pillars unswerving?

articulation of slog for unknown 
salvation from trappings of thought
body, bone, muscle

dynamic portrayal of stone speaking ardour 
without equilibrium 

Did Michelangelo seek to convey that stone and spirit were entwined, humans unemerged ? 

Our incomplete state of Being waft from Atlas’ voluted waist as metaphoric exertion of artistic obsession____unable to lift Self completely 

still evolving, still servant-prisoner
Yet, serving faceless
awakening mannerist energy
final reckoning wanting to break loose
 _-fly

Buonarroti depicted with chisels and mallet
a vigorous tension,  a  l  i  v  e 
in an eternal battle of forces _dynamic

a spiritual longing to free Self from mundane…
and endless quests of Warrior-Pope Julius II Sculptor Supreme was inordinately bound to

this Atlas-Prisoner-Slave stands
as last of four prisoners 
threatening to  e x p l o d e  in both directions 
power generating power 
   as Atlas, the Great, absorbed Helios when Zeus passed his heavy sentence __
                          
surely your creator sought to display innate
challenges of his process 
leaving intact
      chipping marks
      uneven sanding
      incomplete polishing

no lazy human was this who toiled sleepless 
   a rare genius articulating
   the grace of imperfection
   with labyrinthine love for human 
   anatomical beauty 

an intense labour of carving stone intricate 
   could not be more shrewdly honed
   by Atlas writhing intentional 
           unfinished, rough hewn
rasping muscular 
with hot-cold internal locus of control
       respect in stone immortal supreme 
       lives on …
_____

Atlas-Prisoner : Michelangelo Buonarroti 
Marble Sculpture: 277cm : c1530-34
Galleria dell’ Accademia, Florence 

Placed : 8th : Premier Contest 
Sponsor : Brian Strand : April 26

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Howard Kerr April 16, 2026 at 10:57 AM Hi Ghairo, I apologise for the delay in responding to your generous insights on Moonlight Artist’s Bane. Your reflections are much appreciated and will be used for growth. In turn you have composed a stunning magnum opus in meticulous detail with Atlas-Prisoner. A breathtaking narrative that sustains the discerning reader to the very last word. Superb scupture referencing. Warm regards, Howard Ghairo Daniels April 16, 2026 at 11:15 PM No need to apologise for anything, Howard. ThkU so much for reading this one. I enjoyed writing it. Hav a good weekend.

Paige Hind April 12, 2026 at 8:50 PM Wow, this is sooo deep, Ghairo. Your words chisel down my spine like this work does for you!! Ghairo Daniels April 16, 2026 at 11:16 PM ThkU as always for comment, Paige. He did four prisoner sculptures -took me a few minutes to decide which to focus on. Have a good weekend, Love.