[Carl Copeland]

Julie, I love a poem in the spirit of the ancients. A few thoughts:

their modesty, with blushes drawn more bold.

The modest/bold contradiction, though yours, is interesting.

gives chicness to their stately virgin-dress,

“Chicness” places them momentarily on the catwalk. If nothing else, why not “svelteness”?

within their golden baskets’ shimmering lines

“Lines” referring to the weave of the baskets? A little odd, but I can deal with it. It’s a demanding rhyme scheme.

like sun-gilt hailstones’ blond impermanence.

A strange and thought-provoking simile that breaks with the classical straightforwardness of the rest of the poem.

Trivia: I don’t think “face paint” or “virgin dress” (or Basket Bearers) needs a hyphen, and I’d drop the comma after “process.”

Thanks, Julie, I’m into it!