My poem “Announcement” has been published at Reformed Journal, and I thought a link would be an appropriate way to celebrate this festive season.
This poem was inspired by a painting of the Annunciation that I saw at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston some years ago. I got to talk about a bit about that inspiration, and the process of writing, on the Reformed Journal Podcast.
The poem sadly wasn’t posted with the accompanying painting, but here it is:
I found this such a striking and unusual version of the Annunciation when I saw it. I brought a postcard home, and eventually a poem emerged. You can read more about the painting and its setting at the Gardner here.
The poem begins:
An anxious mind is paralyzed by choice.
The angel doesn’t offer choice, but birth —
springing the snare of virtue versus vice.
For the rest, please visit Reformed Journal.
Whatever your tradition at this time of year, I wish you the grace of light, the consolation of peace, and the wisdom that leads us toward the birth of our better selves. Thank you for your presence here.
I love it that a postcard spurred your poem!
I was happy that the museum had a postcard of the painting I could take home with me. Usually my favorites are the ones that don’t seem to get chosen for reproduction.
A poem that quietly invites the reader to consider choices. I was particularly struck by this stanza:
The door between them opens on a place
where light breaks through, and heaven touches earth.
The tree of virtue grows in grounds of vice.
Anyway, congratulations on having this published!
Thanks Chris! It was an honor indeed.
Thank you for this lovely post, Lory. Such a beautiful painting and congratulations!
Thanks so much, Jane.