Stations of the Cross #6

Stations of the Cross #6

Jacob Stratman

6. “Christ Crowned with Thorns” Antonello de Messina 1470 

What exudes favor, light, language, and truth 
better than suffering.  In portrait, the thorns 
crown him like a hair barrette, like it’s meant 
to be there—pinning everything in place. 
That suffering is the point—the very thing 
gifted and ordained.  Light on his bare chest 
lifts our eyes to His—dull, flat—embracing  
the pain and sadness as language of grace 
and truth.  We’re pulled to respond, to attend. 
Yet, the small parapet at the bottom 
presents the tortured Christ to us viewers 
building a fourth wall.  It is a picture 
of grief, and we’re invited to notice 
as we walk by to notice another.

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Jacob Stratman
Poet & Educator

Jacob’s What I Have I Offer With Two Hands is a part of the Poiema Poetry Series (Cascade, 2019). His most recent poems can be found (or forthcoming) in The Christian Century, Wordgathering, FreezeRay, Ekprhastic Review, among others. He lives and teaches in Siloam Springs, AR.

Painting by Antonello de Messina