Salvador Dali: Christ of St John of the Cross

It is not of this world, and yet it is,

And that is how it should be.

Strong light hits the back and the arms

Coming from where we cannot see,

Ought not to see, another dimension

For another time. At this time, we

Share the life of bay and boat

With simply painted fishermen

Who would give no Amen

Even if clouds both apocalyptic and real

Made them look up and feel

What they had to feel

Of shattering amazement, fear,

Protection, and a wash of glory.

Was it an end coming near?

Was it a beginning coming near?

What happened to the thorns and blood and sweat?

What happened to the hands like claws the whipcord muscles?

Has the artist never seen Grunewald?

'I have to tell you John of the Cross called,

Said to remind you light and death once met.'