In marble carved, a story stands,
By Pierre Puget’s master hands.
A meeting frozen, bold and grand,
Two different lives, two worlds unmanned.
From ancient Greece the tale is told,
Of kings with power, and minds so bold.
A conqueror with the world in sight,
A thinker living in the light.
Here comes Alexander the Great with pride,
With soldiers gathered at his side.
He ruled the earth, from shore to shore,
Yet still he sought for something more.
Before him lies, calm and free,
Diogenes of Sinope by a barrel near the sea.
No wealth, no throne, no golden chain,
No fear of loss, no need for gain.
“What do you wish?” the king declared,
“I’ll grant you anything,” he shared.
The crowd leaned in to hear the plea…
But truth is never what you see.
“Stand out of my sunlight,” he said,
No crown, no fear, no bowing head.
In Louvre Museum halls today,
That moment lives, will never fade.
Power and freedom side by side,
Who is richer? Who has pride?
The marble moves though it stands still,
With every face, a different will.
Some look shocked, and some amazed,
At words that left a king half dazed.
This is the art of Baroque design,
Emotion carved in every line.
Like Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s flowing grace,
You feel the motion in each face.
Created under Louis XIV’s command,
When France reached out with cultured hand.
From 1671 through years of care,
Puget gave life to ancient air.
“Stand out of my sunlight,” he said,
A simple truth the philosopher spread.
No empire shines as bright as free,
A mind unchained by destiny.
In marble still, the question stays,
What truly matters in our days?
So when you walk those quiet rooms,
Past ancient gods and marble blooms,
Remember this from long ago…
The richest man may have the least to show.
