The Shape of a Man
A lump of clay lays before me
Shape it with my abilities
Thorough, reliable, and cooperative
With endless possibilities
A bunch of wax pouring down
Into a pre-made mold
Remarkable, patient, diligent
Truly a sight to behold
Water and gypsum to make a plaster
Just the same as wax
Articulate, positive, fair
The wonders of how it acts
A yard of fabric can be shaped
Or sewn or glued or just let be
Neat, polite, and creative
Meant to be set free
A slab of marble can be chipped away
Until it creates the perfect shape
Strong, trustworthy, and humble
My creativity can escape
A brick of stone is much the same
Breaking away piece by piece
Meticulous, insightful, and generous
All my troubles can release
A chunk of wood fallen down
Carve away from its base
Adventurous, positive, and motivated
Once sturdy in its place
Sheets of glass stacked together
Fired and stained until opaque
Steady, fragile, and ambitious
Careful not to break
For metal can be burnt red hot
A gift you can bequeath
Committed, dependable, and caring
No rust hidden underneath
The shape of a man is what I will make
An ideal version to redeem
I’ll use my hopes to shape this man
Before me stands a dream
With large, rough hands
And hair all around the face
A deeper voice to sooth
Oh how quick I would replace
If I could chip away my body
Or burn it red hot
If I could mold it to perfection
My brain would no longer rot
The shape of a man is something
That I will never achieve
For marble and metal and clay I’m not
So I will continue to grieve