Sunday, August 28, 2016

Art and meditation ... those unable to repay ...


A blind man carrying a lame man.



Two mendicants.



The blind beggar at the threshold.


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When you hold a banquet, 
invite the poor, 
the crippled, 
the lame, 
the blind ... 
those who are unable to repay you.

Thus I realized and understood
my misfit state...
a debtor standing outside,
abject upon the threshold of
God's house,
unable to repay.

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Once again, I'm reminded of the Shakespeare Sonnet:

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, 
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, 
And look upon myself and curse my fate, 
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, 
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, 
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope, 
With what I most enjoy contented least; 
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, 
Haply I think on thee, and then my state, 
(Like to the lark at break of day arising 
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;     
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings     
That then I scorn to change my state with kings. - Sonnet 29



"Haply I think on Thee" ... truly my only solace in the depths of my soul ...



When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes ...

I am made content.



Paintings by Antoine Carte, dit Anto Carte

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