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She Who Once Was the Helmet Maker's Beautiful Wife

Inspired by:

She Who Once Was the
Helmet Maker’s Beautiful Wife.

Sculpture by Auguste Rodin


nude glory, she of uncrannied pelt,
stroked by many, might not know
she’ll sit erelong on stone as 
wrinkled bronze
waiting yet to be touched.  

muscle melts from bone,
hair, once auburn-splashed on brow,
turns colorless now and dull.  Who sees
the girl with rose wine cheeks, the
prime of a daughter turned old?


Kathryn McLoughlin Collins
April 14, 2013

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Suzanne Delaney

Date: 5/25/2013 1:41:00 PM

...and she long outlives her mortal coil. Wonderful images and concept. SuZ.

Jack Horne

Date: 5/5/2013 3:01:00 PM

love this clever write - must Google the sculpture too

Sara Kendrick

Date: 5/5/2013 2:07:00 PM

Interesting work that you have penned..I remember once a lady from church who had just had cataract sugery and could see again said, "Look at my daughters how wrinkled and old they are"..Your work reminded me of that time of years ago ...Now I am older than the daughters who looked wrinkled and old..Sara

Keith Bickerstaffe

Date: 4/30/2013 8:32:00 AM

You have such a gift for creating beauty with so few, yet carefully selected words. '...uncrannied pelt,' '...muscle melts from bone,' '...auburn splashed.' Rich in imagery and sublime in conception. BRAVO you!! Love Keith

Victoria Anderson-Throop

Date: 4/23/2013 2:50:00 PM

what a wonder how the spark (written and sculpted) passes from one artist to another--walking through time as though it does not exist---well done, Kathryn.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 4/23/2013 8:21:00 AM

Yikes cold and dull today here in Ct YOU stay warm. Thanks for stopping by my verses. Light & Love

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 4/23/2013 8:02:00 AM

Good-morning Kathryn, i find the imagery here a work of art. A statue in her own making. Makeup- is only a feeling one needs to never lose age. a very unique and different kind of poem for me. When i said different- i meant - I've read many poems with deep imagery,,,, but never like this..... description from start to end. One is always seen no matter the colors of the sky. enjoyed...Linda