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.