Galatea and Pygmalion

Flames leap up through incense-laden air: at her festival,
Aphrodite answers Pygmalion's prayer, bestows her favour,
giving warmth to the girl he has fashioned in her image.
She lies at home on the couch, as he arranged her, bedecked
in pearls, rings, chains. And is beginning to breathe …
Returning, Pygmalion tests, with time-hardened touch,
her pulse; he wakens her with kisses, then swiftly arranges
a marriage — a pleasing end to his story.
Moving, feeling,
Galatea learns that his dry flesh will never please her,
but fulfils his longings, bereft of hers.
Art within art,
she composes herself: behind an ivory smile she endures,
becomes in time, famed hostess, honoured matron,
a pillar of society.