288

La Orana Maria, 1891

The virgin stands in a loose dress
Of faded red patterned with large
Flowers from which hang stamens
Heavy with pollen. Her full arms
Support the body of her son, who
Rests on her shoulder and inclines
Over her black hair. His body is
A bloated green and seems in the
Process of putrefaction. The air
About their heads is traced by two
Dull halos. About them the bounty
Of the earth extends : at the fore,
Bananas and guava ripen in bowls,
Slight flowers hang in triads from
The filaments of sparse bushes,
And beyond them the trees spread
Great clouds of incense over dusty
And vacant wheat fields. Ragged
Lights unwind themselves across
The face of the far mountains. The
Day tires of its chaleur, sliding into
Dormancy. In the lady's shadow
Three figures abase themselves.
Two village women, dressed only
In pareus skirts of white with gold
Motifs, clasp their hands before
Their soft bodies as if in prayer.
At back, a woman, faint behind the
Veil of her black hair, dressed in
A formless pink robe. From the apt
Curvature of her spine a collosal
Structure rises, bipartite. Her wings.
At their height the coverts are a blue
Of childhood nights and billowing
Curtains. The long primaries seem
To light the gloom where they hang,
The yellow of decaying palm leaves.
She appears to withhold her force,
Anticipating some commandword.
A body may contain such power.