Nativity, at Night, A Christmas Poem Inspired by the Art of the Same Title by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 1490
- Anne Childress
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Nativity, at Night, A Christmas Poem
Inspired by the Art of the Same Title of Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 1490
Beneath a Northern star, his life cut short,
Geertgen tot Sint Jans, of Netherlandish sort.
An oak wood sheet, his genius would proclaim,
He built his Christmas mystery not for fame.
Inspired by faith, the artist sought to spread
The holy words that Saint Bridget had said.
She saw a light no earthly sun could claim,
A radiant glory round the Manger flame.
"The sun in heaven could not compare," she cried,
To the Child's brilliance where salvation lied.
This sacred truth Geertgen yearned to show,
A supernatural and pure, celestial glow.
He used the oil paint, pioneer so bold,
A spiritual story that would now unfold.
The stable waits, a setting "vast and dim,"
A silent frame for the eternal hymn.
No smoky torch, no candle's common grace,
Illuminates the solemn, central space.
From the Infant Christ, the central focus streams,
Fulfilling all of Bridget's deepest dreams.
A brilliant light bursts forth, divine and stark,
A sacred power pushing back the dark.
It bathes the Mother's face in gentle rays,
Her hands in prayer, lost in adoring gaze.
The master planned three distinct light sources there,
To make the miracle profoundly clear.
The main is God, where all the glory lies,
Reflected gently in the Virgin's eyes.
A secondary glow is seen on high,
An angel's light across the shadowed sky.
Below, the shepherds, cold and stressed, are blessed
By a small, pale earthly fire put to the test.
This chiaroscuro, rich and full of grace,
Forces the viewer to the central, holy place.
Five hundred years have passed, we watch afar
Still gazing at the guiding Star.
His mastery overshadow and pure light,
Made his enduring artwork, "Nativity at Night."
By Anne Hendricks, M.Ed.
Contest
Dedicated: To Dana Adkerson for listening to me for five hours as I wrote the poem and got cranky in the writing process: she had to listen to me go through entire rhymes and rewrites.
May your Christmas be as luminous as this painting, Dana.
(The Dutch artist was inspired by the writings and dreams of Saint Gertrude as well as The Gospel of Saint John)
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