Oil by Vermeer

"Christ in the Home of Martha and Mary”

By Cherise Wyneken

Burnt red – brooding walls

reflect undercurrents

from three smoldering

life-size forms.

A touch of petulance

on Martha’s face;

a question from Christ

pointing to polarity

with fingertip and eyes;

cloistered at his feet

Mary gazes –

clinging to his words.

No tress of hair

escapes bold folds

of the women’s headgear,

no trace of breasts or jewels,

yet evocative alluring

patterned sashes, crimson clothes,

Mary’s feet unshod, knee

fading into Jesus’ robes.

Martha offers bread

to satisfy the moment

a simple loaf in a basket –

a body – offered on the cross.

Previously published in A Kind of Hurricane Press