Galatea

[Tiger the Lion]

Hey River, a few thoughts for you.

Galatea


I can't stare into your smiling face and think I somewhat agree with Knot about "can't" To my ear "cannot" almost always sounds bolder - maybe can't serves the voice better? I'm not sure
that I should never conjure up a face
as vivid as yours with words alone, or even I think you could strike "as yours". It's a long breath, anf you don't really need it
stone -- perhaps I need

to ask for the Lord's forgiveness,
to feed on the fruit the dove selects,
to learn the vital art of description Like the repetition of "to". Gives it a mantra feel. Consider "and not to fall" also? 
and not fall into the old obsessions

(out of the remnants of shooting stars, Pygmalion
sculpting red hair, green eyes, and the implied)

perhaps, between the two of us,
there is no mythic narrative to tell,
only the one decision: for* love is a decision 
no smiling face can make for the beholder.

* I think when the word "for" is used to begin a conclusion, it takes on hints of archaism/cliche/preachy. It almost has a voice of it's own. I think your ending works, even with that voice chiming in. But still, I can hear it.

Enjoyed the poem, thanks for the read.
Paul