•6:00 AM
Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)Sonnet
This is that blessed Mary, pre-elect
God's Virgin. Gone is a great while since she
Dwelt thus in Nazareth of Galilee.
Loving she was, with temperate respect:
A profound simpleness of intellect
Was hers, and extreme patience. From the knee
Faithful and hopeful; wise in charity;
Strong in grave peace; in duty circumspect.
Thus held she through her girlhood; as it were
An angel-watered lily, that near God
Grows and is quiet. Till one dawn, at home,
She woke in her white bed, and had no fear
At all, yet wept for a brief period;
Because the fulness of the time was come.
--Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)
Advent
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7 comments:
Oooh, I really like the image "angel-watered lily."
We have this painting in our ward building. Love it! Our daughter is Mary. We thought it sounded like a good idea but it turns out it means "bitter" which has turned out to be rather appropriate. I hope she grows out of it. :)
Oh Dante. So lovely. And the lighting in that painting is breath taking. Your taste proves exquisite once again.
Just lovely. I wasn't familiar with either the poem or the painting.
I love that painting, and the fact that you are so familiar with so many gems that are new to me. Where have I been? Really, really nice.
Such beautiful language! I especially love the angel-watered lily. Gorgeous painting too.
Great painting, nice realistic setting with a very nice impressed, confused, solemn Mary.