BY ANDREW RAINES

Ekphrasis on “The Dream of the Virgin” by Simone dei Crocefissi (1355 – 1399)

Already he stretches out his small hands

as if to welcome the nails that are his

His soft palms receptive and waiting

for sharp friends made just for them

Casting aside the magi’s gifts 

to make space ready

And his first parents

their hands out too

reaching, grasping 

hoping for what they lost

never finding what they sought

…

languishing

not in age-enduring, cosmos-rending pains

but in countless salty tears

one…............ 

………by……….

            ………….one

……..

dropping in their laps

………

missing home

one moment…… ……………………………………

…………………………..……and then another…

……….

passing like a steamroller over asphalt

……..
………

and each second asks

……..
………

falling into nowhere

Who………………………………………………………….am I? 

Am …………………

………. ……….. I?

……………………

 Is………….there ……….an ……….I……….still? 

no………………………………………..

object ………………………………………………………

……..no 

  …………….. hold………………………….

……… ………………………………………………………….…no……………

                                    ……………………………………grasp……………………………..

no ………………………………………………..relations with ……………………………………………..which 

            my ………………………………………………..self

to ………………………….……con- ……………………………………..……………struct

but

………….a…………………………………………….………………,,,…..,,,,……………………seed………….    

………….    a……………………………..……………………………..…….…sprout………….    

………….    a………………….………………….……….…….root………….    

………….    a ……………..……branch………….    

a tree

another tree

and suddenly

my palms not ready but filled

my hands unfolded again

to welcome the great

…

I AM

…

met

reached, grasped

found, never having been lost.

…

And the Virgin awakes.