A Nun's Devotional Work

[emusnare]

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In the book she illustrated,
Judith stands behind Holofernes
and drives a spike through his neck -
causing blood to gush out, which stains
the page of this medieval text
so that even the words themselves
are seen to turn from black to red.

.

Comments

context

[emusnare]

I felt inspired to write something ekphrastic after seeing a cool exhibit at The Getty last weekend:

http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/medieval_women/index.html

first draft

[emusnare]

A Nun's Devotional Work

In the illuminated text,
Judith stands behind Holofernes
and drives a spike into his neck -
blood gushes out, staining the page
of this medieval manuscript
so that even the words themselves
are seen to turn from black to red.

second draft

[emusnare]

Illuminated Manuscript

In the story's illustration,
Judith stands behind Holofernes
and drives a spike through his neck -
causing blood to gush out, which stains
the page of this medieval text
so that even the words themselves
are seen to turn from black to red.