A poem and a painting for Advent: Announcement

My poem “Announcement” has been published at Reformed Journal, and I thought a link would be an appropriate way to celebrate this festive season.

This poem was inspired by a painting of the Annunciation that I saw at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston some years ago. I got to talk about a bit about that inspiration, and the process of writing, on the Reformed Journal Podcast.

The poem sadly wasn’t posted with the accompanying painting, but here it is:

Piermatteo d’Amelia – The Annunciation, about 1487

I found this such a striking and unusual version of the Annunciation when I saw it. I brought a postcard home, and eventually a poem emerged. You can read more about the painting and its setting at the Gardner here.

The poem begins:

An anxious mind is paralyzed by choice.
The angel doesn’t offer choice, but birth —
springing the snare of virtue versus vice.

For the rest, please visit Reformed Journal.

Whatever your tradition at this time of year, I wish you the grace of light, the consolation of peace, and the wisdom that leads us toward the birth of our better selves. Thank you for your presence here.