Rodin and Hennirette Goltete In Front of the Gates of Hell

He is seated, the master, physically
past his prime as the ultimate artist
of love, sculptor of polished white
marble, the always to remain unfinished
shell of the gates of hell at their backs,
textured surfaces waiting to be hammered
into form, into existence as Blakeian figures,
writhing, pale humans twisted into
gargoyle shapes or in the shape of
the pensive one, The Thinker, presiding
dead center above the portals of hell
but what of the much younger model?
The one standing by the artist's side,
clearly an acolyte converted by his
visions realized, what of her? and that
slender hand resting upon his shoulder?
clearly ignoring the archetypal form so close
behind, how long can she endure?
how long ignore the as yet unseen fires?
the smoking place where none dare enter?

-- Alan Catlin