Assignment: “Try your hand at writing a few lines of ekphrastic poetry.”
Byzantine Christ Pantocrater,
Judge of humanity,
I wonder what you have to say
Of those who snatched you away?
How did they dare?
What's more, why should I care?
Your hair is centrally parted
And you are bearded.
Your eyes, stern and austere,
Pierce my every gaze
And though it is not I the thief,
Somehow I am afraid.
Captive in ornate frame of old,
Your countenance is half-hidden
By metallic screen of gold.
With one hand held forth
And cyrillic scripture in the other,
You seem to be admonishing me.
Did you hang first in the palace of a tsar,
And was his adoration of you used
To expiate sins against a peasantry abused?
Suddenly there abound in my mind
Thoughts of century-old injustices
Of every kind.