Venus Meets a Mannequin

Someone has painted the mannequin gold:
like the woman in the book
who got hit by her boyfriend – Midas’s girl.

Venus feels sorry for her,
she looks drawn – stretched with hunger,
dressed in swim wear – Venus –

traces the line of her narrow torso,
presses a palm against the window,
mouths words:

‘Are you in any pain?’
‘Is there anything I can do?’

Midas’s girl
stares straight ahead.
Says nothing.