—Painting by Joseph Van Bredael
(Flanders, before 1739)
—Poetry by Stephen Kingsnorth,
Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
—Public Domain Painting Courtesy
of Stephen Kingsnorth
—Public Domain Painting Courtesy
of Stephen Kingsnorth
BATTLE OF WITTES?
With hinterland of layered planes
in nuanced palette, bringing forth
the miniature on wider scale,
particularity is here,
a scandal of theology.
A figure born of tiny span,
whose stretch of life but similar,
should be accord, eternity,
infinity as brought to birth,
in both geography and year,
a stroke of Masterpiece in deed,
though type for God of our desire.
So artist, craft, epiphany,
theophany for one and all,
incarnate set for every,
of time, place, historicity?
The horse for camel, barn for cave,
exotic in the Flemish street,
’tis only flesh identity
that could be dressed wherever met.
The Father, name shared, mentor, guide,
though subject one in three declared,
the tetragrammaton in spell.
Maria mother, Joseph here,
their christen, tree, inheritance
of culture, faith on canvas laid,
initially, sign limited;
did contract bring battle of Wittes,
with copies sold, originals?
Distilled in one of many seen,
if babe, God vulnerable shown,
then take these silks, satins, brocades,
remember livestock, stink of straw,
and translate them to rubble, war,
for foreign kings, shepherds before,
show all reveal selves, open door.
____________________
—Medusa, with thanks to Stephen Kingsnorth for his fine poem on this 2024 Christmas Eve, and to him for the painting of the Magi, and to Joe Nolan for Old Father Christmas~
With hinterland of layered planes
in nuanced palette, bringing forth
the miniature on wider scale,
particularity is here,
a scandal of theology.
A figure born of tiny span,
whose stretch of life but similar,
should be accord, eternity,
infinity as brought to birth,
in both geography and year,
a stroke of Masterpiece in deed,
though type for God of our desire.
So artist, craft, epiphany,
theophany for one and all,
incarnate set for every,
of time, place, historicity?
The horse for camel, barn for cave,
exotic in the Flemish street,
’tis only flesh identity
that could be dressed wherever met.
The Father, name shared, mentor, guide,
though subject one in three declared,
the tetragrammaton in spell.
Maria mother, Joseph here,
their christen, tree, inheritance
of culture, faith on canvas laid,
initially, sign limited;
did contract bring battle of Wittes,
with copies sold, originals?
Distilled in one of many seen,
if babe, God vulnerable shown,
then take these silks, satins, brocades,
remember livestock, stink of straw,
and translate them to rubble, war,
for foreign kings, shepherds before,
show all reveal selves, open door.
____________________
—Medusa, with thanks to Stephen Kingsnorth for his fine poem on this 2024 Christmas Eve, and to him for the painting of the Magi, and to Joe Nolan for Old Father Christmas~
Old Father Christmas
—Public Domain Illustration
Courtesy of Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
—Public Domain Illustration
Courtesy of Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
For upcoming poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
to find the date you want.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
to find the date you want.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
