Statuette: Late Minoan

Girl of the musing mouth,

The mild archaic air,

For whom do you subtly smile?

Yield to what power or prayer

Breasts vernally bare?

I seem to be peering at you

Through the wrong end of time

That shrinks to a bright, far image –

Great Mother of earth’s prime –

A stature sublime.

So many golden ages

Of sunshine steeped your clay,

So dear did the maker cherish

In you life’s fostering ray,

That you warm us today.

Goddess or girl, you are earth.

The smile, the offered breast –

They were the dream of one

Thirsting as I for rest,

As I, unblest.