APHRODITE

I’ve seen a Venus not of marble carved By some great sculptor’s hand in ancient Greece, Unearthed in a mutilated state By archaeologists in quest of ruins And pedestaled in temple of fine art. The Venus I have seen was made of flesh, Of ordinary, living, human flesh, More beautiful than statue e’er could be. She stands behind a counter in a store From morning until night dispensing wares— A living Venus at five dollars per.