Minerva Dressing by Kate Welsh

"It will only make her more like the moon, bright-faced and still unfathomable."

Minerva Dressing
by Kate Welsh
              after Lavinia Fontana (1613)

Through the doorway to the balcony, the sky 
is the dark blue of dusk or dawn or stormy day. 
St. Peter’s hazy dome appears cumulous; 

an olive tree reaches its fine branches up, up; 
a black owl scrapes its talons on the balustrade. 
Inside, the floor is strewn with armor, 

with weaponry—her shield against the bureau; 
her breastplate on the tile. Sitting in the threshold, 
a blond cherub gazes into the iron shine 

of the red-feathered helmet, too taken with himself 
to admire the nude goddess in front of him. 
She has just returned or she is readying to leave; 

her body turned from us, her eyes on us, 
looking at us who look at her: her dark hair 
constellated in pearls; her back of quiet muscle. 

In her hands, a diaphanous, gold-threaded gown. 
Worn, it will do nothing to conceal her body. 
It will only make her more like the moon, 

bright-faced and still unfathomable.