SAINT PAUL THE HERMIT FED BY THE RAVEN, Pietro Antonio Novelli (1729-1804
PIETRO ANTONIO NOVELLI, Venice, 1729-1804,
St. Paul the Hermit Fed By a Raven
Pen and brown ink, black chalk, and bister; 9.84 x 7.08 in. (250 x 180 mm)
THE LOVING QUESTION
He turned his back to the world
to embrace,
over and over,
a small piece of wood.
Ninety years over.
He looks at it fixedly,
with the tenderness that a father
has for his child,
that Narcissus
must have for himself.
Isn't it
in this longing way
that we should look
at ourselves?
Isn't it
inside us
what we so cravingly
seek?
Shouldn't
it be?
The raven keeps feeding the barley,
unleavened bread,
to the question.
—Stefan Balan