Michelangelo
Compelled in his youth to create something grand,
_He saw visions of form in the stone.
The marble transported from Tuscany hills
_Had awaited this master alone.
With chisel and hammer, the heft of his arms,
_And the strength of his dominant will,
He strove day and night in a feverish fit
_For the purpose he had to fulfill.
His work was inspired by fervor and faith
_And a foresight with which to conceive.
But—blessings or curses?—he wondered at last
_At his passionate drive to achieve.
an early version of this poem was
published by WestWard Quarterly in 2025
Margaret Brinton has lived in San Diego’s inland valley area for over forty years where she taught and tutored. Her poems have recently been published in California Quarterly and Westward Quarterly and The Lyric with upcoming work in the greeting card industry. She has previously been published in the Penwood Review and many other publications.
Margaret, this is a deft dive into what compelled Michelangelo to conceive of his masterpieces contained in blocks of marble. Vision and foresight coupled with faith are great motivators for genius.