By Jeff Koons

SHEBA'S GIFTS TO SOLOMON

Queen Sheba loads forty mules with gold bricks

as gifts for Solomon. When her envoy and his party

reach the wide plain leading to Solomon's palace,

they see that the top layer of the entire plain

is pure gold. They travel on gold

for forty days!

What foolishness to take gold

to Solomon, when the dirt of his land

is gold. You who think to offer

your intelligence, reconsider. The mind

is less than road dust.

The embarrassing commonness they bring only

slows them down. They argue. They discuss

turning back, but they continue,

carrying out the orders of their queen.

Solomon laughs when he sees them unloading

gold bars.

"When have I asked you

for a sop for my soup? I don't want gifts

from you. I want you to be ready

for the gifts I give.

You worship a planet that creates gold.

Worship instead the one who creates the universe.

You worship the sun. The sun is only a cook.

Think of a solar eclipse. What if you get attacked

at midnight? Who will help you then?"

These astronomical matters fade.

Another initimacy happens,

a sun at midnight,

with no east, no night or day.

The clearest intelligences faint,

seeing the solar system flickering,

so tiny in that immense lightness.

Drops fall into a vapor, and the vapor explodes

into a galaxy. Half a ray strikes a patch of darkness.

A new sun appears.

One slight, alchemical gesture,

and saturnine qualities form inside

the planet Saturn.

The sensuous eye needs sunlight to see.

Use another eye.

Vision is luminous.

Sight is igneous, and sun-fire light very dark.

Rumi