Forge-created, etched in image fair.

Heated, glowing, pounded down in place:

form and likeness of the royal heir

–

Payed in secret and in open air.

Merchants nod to see the well-known face:

forge created, etched in image fair.

–

Jostle carried; through the open square

a group of scholars clustered, in a space:

the form and likeness of the royal Heir

–

They cloy a question, speak with cunning care:

“Should one pay to Caesar—in this case—

this forge created, etched in image fair?”

–

Held aloft that all might be aware

“Whose image does this little copper trace?”

“The form and likeness of the royal heir.”

–

“Then give to Caesar all his image bears

but give to God His due. Do not misplace

that forge-created etched in image fair:

it bears the form and likeness of the Heir.”