Juicio de un Pecador

(Judgement of a Sinner)

In this painting

a black woman

chained

at

wrists and ankles

is being dragged

off the edge of earth

into

hell.

Behind her

skeletal death

raises its sythe

and grins

to the right

an angel holds

an open book

and weeps

to the left

and slightly behind

another angel

strikes a bell

with

a

small hammer

and

to the far left

a

pointed eared

horned and winged

demon

unscrolls

her

multitude

of

sins.

Below

snarling dogs

hell snakes

and

demons

uglier

than

dogs or snakes

pull

her

forward

closer closer

to

the

pit.

Above the naked sinner

the hidden hand of God

holds

the 

t
h
r
e
a
d

of a
chance

tied

to her

neck.

Marginalia:  a winged hour glass hovers in 

the far right corner.

A PRAYER FOR YOUR OWN FAVORITE AUNTIE

Imagine

your own

favorite auntie

Lost in her Rosary

Stepping around cobblestones

Her broken voice

earning her a few pesetas

and carrying her

down a mountain

to a small room

and a little sleep.

Merciful One

may your heart

rest over hers

This world is hard

and she is old.

Her name is

(shutterstock photo w/no attribution)

THREE VIRGINS #3

Virgen de la Paloma

In this picture

the Virgin

is

surrounded

by

soft colors

and

light.

She

is

middle-aged

half-smiling

and

double-chinned.

Her

skin

is

soft and smooth.

She

is

crowned

with

laurel and flowers.

There

are

twenty pearls

at

her throat

a

floral brooch

pinned

at

her

neckline.

Her

frock

is rose.

She

is

draped

in 

a blue

and

star-studded

robe.

A

hummingbird

in a

flash

of

golden light

is

embroidered

at

her

breast.

She

cradles

a

bundle

of

Madonna Lillies

(flor de azucena)

and

sits

in

clouds

looking

at

you.

THE TEETH OF TIME

The Past is toothless.  It gums the great silence and nothing changes.  The past opened wide is a black hole, sucking everything in, letting nothing out, but belching hot air.

The Present has a fine set of choppers.  It bites, and gnaws, and chews.  Every moment grist for the mill of now.  Crack a tooth on a hard truth, spit it out, it will grow back.  Teeth crack, truth soldiers on.  The mouth of now, its perpetual cud, the ever masticating cow.

The Future has fangs that puncture heads and pop brains from skulls.  The fangs of the future drag along the surface raking up wishes, dreams, hopes, and desires, imprisoning all such things in eternity's maw.

THREE VIRGINS #2

VIRGEN DOLOROSA SENTAOA

In this painting

the Virgin

dressed in purple

and

robed

in darkest blue

sits

left arm extended

hand open

right hand

at her heart.

Seven

deeply thrust

swords

fan across

her

back and shoulders.

Her

heart

has been

p

i

e

r

c

e

d

by a

s

t

i

l

e

t

t

o

.

Her head

is tilted up

and to the right.

Her gaze -

heavenward.

A

golden

aura

r

i

s

e

s

into the night.

She does not bleed.

(Marginalia:  a crown of thorns with 13 spikes, three iron nails.)

THREE VIRGINS

THREE VIRGINS

#1.  Untitled

In the painting

the Virgin

supported by cherubs

floats

above

the

severed

hands feet

&

thorn-wrapped

heart

of

her son.

Robed in black

hands folded
her

heart
has been

pierced

by

a

thin
blade.

She looks

to the right

and down
her gaze is soft.

The only blood - her son's.

Marginalia:  An empty cross draped with Veronica's veil, a ladder, a staff topped with a balled up, blood smeared cloth, a crowing rooster.