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Friday, July 12, 2013

clothed in white


the Samaritan, the victim
brought to the present
we don’t know the road
but we see their expression
the blood of the scripture
of his harsh beating
missing, replaced
both are now clothed in white
pure, holy, a different image
something more powerful
more important in this image
the words to challenge us
how we relate to them
the victim and the Samaritan
holy in God’s sight


July 12, 2013
Luke 10:29-37
cover art of the July-August, 2013
Upper Room Devotional
 “Good Samaritan”
Artist: Stephen Sawyer
(USA, Contemporary)
Interpreter: Mona Bagasao-Cave
with Christ’s and her question, “who is my neighbor?”
seen July 12, 2013
&
email sent to artist Stephen Sawyer 7/12/13:
I just got a large print copy of The Upper Room for July and August with your painting as the cover art. I am working on poems inspired by it and wondered if you would be willing to answer a couple of questions about it. Did you read Mona Bagasao-Cave's interpretation? Is it consistent with what you wanted to convey?

Also, I noticed that the painting showed both the men clothed and that no blood was shown. Was that intentional and, if so, why did you show the victim clothed?

Also, I feel that the victim looks about the age of Jesus and very much like several images of Christ. Was that intentional as well?

It is drawing me to answer Mona's question as if the victim is Jesus and Jesus is my neighbor, much like the sheep and goats judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. She asked us to put ourselves into the image but I see myself, as one of the others, who might have been too busy to stop.

Finally, there is a softness about the victim, which made me think of a gay man I know, who often wore that type of shirt. Could you have been including that quality to the victim?

Lots of questions I know, but a wonderful painting to generate such. Thank you. Ray Foss, Poetry Where You Live, www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com”.


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 23,710+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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