Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons. Image was altered.
“Paintings of the Annunciation tend to reinforce a vision that a transformative
encounter between two radically different types of being is possible.”
Mary Szybist, Paris Review
“Stay here until you receive instructions to depart.”
Fire Drill, public safety officer, annual practice
Instructions to depart
may be premature.
Instead,
stay here.
You are invited
to be two.
Tend to a vision, an encounter,
a possible type of being
that could reinforce our
encounter.
Safety tend[s] to reinforce type[s].
Radical encounter may
reinforce something different.
You could receive me
without instructions.
I could receive you the same way
but
as a radically different being.
Departing tends to paint a transformative encounter
right out of the picture.
A radically different painting is possible.
Stay here.
This is not a drill.
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What a beautiful poem! I read it three times, just enjoying its music and looking at the wonderful painting of the Annunciation each time. My interpretation, if one is needed, is that friendship and love make us grow in unexpected ways and we should not feel threatened by differences, but embrace them
I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Wonderful poem! Love the voice.
Theresa, this is intriguing! A portent of things to come…..
Beautiful writing! Which of the two people in the painting do you identify most with?
Congratulations on your new relationship. (I guess it’s too late for me!)