for Elizabeth Weber
Rilke guiding her to canvas, she paints
a surreal monument: glowing-embered
masked witch doctor or profiled Asian saint
flourishing high marred crucifix (severed
of right arm), embroidered robe of passioned
colors to humble Joseph’s sacred coat.
What is this bright light rising (like Hung Shing’s
blazing torch) from behind our saint? Devote
our faith to its hope. Give us reason to
believe it will save our seething structure
from those rustling emerald vines set to
entangle and suffocate all, rupture
our pillar’s memory of images blessed
on this torn canvas our artist has caressed.
Roger Armbrust
October 7, 2015
