The Madonna's Blue Sky Morning
Herod's recent butchery is passed away
in the Baraccio Madonna's blue sky morning;
Salome's request macabre and
Pilate's washing of his hands are
cowardices yet to come.
For now, her nephew's
teasing of the cat
distracts the nursing child
from her breast.
The boys giggle.
She smiles.
We lean into the scene like
Joseph in the painting's upper corner.
We laugh with him.
She holds her son upon her lap,
her other arm loosely round John
leaning against her hip
where he holds
a carved bird aloft in one hand,
out of the feline's reach,
his cousin's foot in the other.
Our hearts beat hot joy
for their happiness;
then cold dread for
knowing what must come
and why.
Herod's recent butchery is passed away
in the Baraccio Madonna's blue sky morning;
Salome's request macabre and
Pilate's washing of his hands are
cowardices yet to come.
For now, her nephew's
teasing of the cat
distracts the nursing child
from her breast.
The boys giggle.
She smiles.
We lean into the scene like
Joseph in the painting's upper corner.
We laugh with him.
She holds her son upon her lap,
her other arm loosely round John
leaning against her hip
where he holds
a carved bird aloft in one hand,
out of the feline's reach,
his cousin's foot in the other.
Our hearts beat hot joy
for their happiness;
then cold dread for
knowing what must come
and why.