Whom the fire burned
is under gauze.
Was it once black or white or non-white?
What the closed eyes?
What myriad colors swirl beneath the bandages?
Sins of color stain even a child.
What absolution have we
if we offer such sacrifices as the gods decree?
And if it walks like blind Tiresias
what will it prophesy
but death which comes to all
and judgment.
In keeping witht the theme of minimalism in art, Sanaa at dVerse writes: “I want you all to select one out of the twelve photographs shared … and write a poem. It can be an Ekphrastic poem, if you like. Go philosophical. Go dark or romantic or solemn. Share what you feel about Minimalist photography when you see it. The idea here is to provoke an emotion, and what better way to pour them out other than poetry?” Click on Mr. Linky and join in.
Dreams from a Pilgrimage 
I love the poem and a gat picture of a school bus. My hope is children will be riding in them soon.
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Thank you, Molly.
pax,
dora
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Your interpretation of Glenn’s photo is simply stunning!
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Helen,
I appreciate your kind comment very much. Thank you.
pax,
dora
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Sins of color stain even a child… that is so chilling, and it makes me think of segregated schools and buses… I think there are greater sins in such separations.
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Bjorn,
Absolutely agree. Thanks as always for your thoughtful comments.
pax,
dora
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This is absolutely phenomenal! I especially admire; “What the closed eyes?
What myriad colors swirl beneath the bandages? Sins of color stain even a child.” Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt 💝💝
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Sanaa,
Your prompt was an inspired challenge. So glad you liked my contribution! 💖
pax,
dora
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Wow, Dora!
The school bus photo is slanted. Did that add to your warning of unjustness warping children?
Quite powerful and deeply prophetic prose.
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Susan,
So grateful for your comment! That’s exactly what prompted me, the school bus askew, children victimized by the agendas of adults who care less about them than their color, the “gods” of the world who decree what is justice, and finally the willful negligence of the fact that as human beings, whatever color, we all are in the same boat (or bus), death and the coming judgment. We should be paying more attention to who we have driving the school bus, shouldn’t we?
pax,
dora
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Dora,
That’s why I’ve homeschooled my granddaughters this whole school year. Their innocence is far too precious to entrust to radical political people.
Your piece was spot on!
Peace,
Susan
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Thanks, Susan. And good on you for grabbing the bull by the tail and facing the situation (as WC Fields would say). :>) Homeschooling is something more and more families are turning to across the political spectrum.
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Your take is so unique and and prophetic, coming at us two-fold, as children of color are bussed into integration, and yet “under the gauze” they become the One child. I have always yearned for man to breed himself into one race, thus banishing segregation.
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Glenn,
Thank you for letting us use your awesome photo and your perceptive comment — “the One child under the gauze” is what I was going for.
pax,
dora
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Beautiful poem indeed. The picture of the bus is great too!
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Skip,
Thank you very much. A little minimalism goes a long way. :>)
pax,
dora
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shave save the space
it keeps coming back
just like sin
how many times
you gonna confess
of most things
you made such a mess?
eh
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Without confession,
there’s no hope
for redemption.
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bingo. of course.
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The imagery of your poem is truly chilling Dora: it made me think of a bus bombing, and how, with a sickening irony, burnt flesh is all the same colour.
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Ingrid,
That was in my mind as I had just read in the news of a racial activist (running for mayor) who had once boarded a school bus and threatened an attack. These are chilling times.
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May the young patient find the Healer and become a brand snatched from the fire. Excellent work!
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Amen! Thank you, Jon.
pax,
dora
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This is a brilliant interpretation of the prompt…sadly though, it will take a while before we get to see colorful school buses on the streets..
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Mich,
Thank you so much! In my part of the U.S. they’re planning on schools opening this fall. We’ll see.
pax,
dora
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Ohhh that soon?..
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Masks no longer required and things have really opened up. Keeping our fingers crossed. 🤞
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