San Michele, Venice
here lies a man
of words, who in time
came to doubt their meanings
who therefore confines
himself to two words
only here
EZRA POVND
minimal
the injury done
to the white stone
none
to the earth
it rests upon
The spoils of a corsair –
who ranged the Mediterranean
and brought home
porphyry, alabaster, lapis lazuli
and every hue and current of veined marble.
In the bayleaves’ shade
dumb now
and within earshot
of the stilled Adriatic
deaf, rests
under white marble
la spoglia, the remains.