The patient
by Elouise
The patient lies dying
Body wasting
Skin pale and taut
lethargic eyes stare
from hollowed out sockets
Faded remnants of life born in hope
disappear in deep shadows
A priest garbed in vestments
stands before a makeshift altar
Demeanor and voice concentrated
on the proper order of things
His hands grasp the sacrament of life
hanging heavy in this cramped space
A young altar boy looks on
Head and eyes slightly averted
Hands clasped close to his chest
Sad eyes try not to stare
Filtered through a small window
dying light descends into the room
touching the patient’s Madonna-like robe
with a gleaming halo of grace
This is somebody’s beloved child
Fragile and sick unto death
Beyond hope of survival
Now the center of attention
Seated in a chair of royal honor
Tender looks and hand of a caregiver
Rest lightly on the young child
A man sits in shadows
Body bent in despair
Head slumping on his hand
A small dog sits on his lap
Looking on with downcast eyes
The priest’s voice continues
©Elouise Renich Fraser, 11 August 2017
Painting found at Wickipedia
1888 Painting by Venezuelan artist, Cristóbal Rojas (1857-1890)
Rojas died of tuberculosis about 5 weeks before his 33rd birthday.
Telling the Truth 
A beautiful piece of art, both the image and your words. Nice job E ❤ sad and touching.
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Why do I dislike this? There is nothing about this that I find appealing, even though I ticked the like box!
It all seems so wrong to me! Deliberately glorifying the death of a child for religious purposes. Quite sad. 😦
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This is, indeed, a sad painting. I agree that it’s all so wrong, but not for the reason you name. The painter has depicted in this one event the sad and sorry situation of people in his country (Venezuela) in the late 1800s. I find it remarkable that the only people who show up for the death of this young child are what seem to be her family, a small dog, and a church official with an altar boy. In fact, it seems showing up for the most needy among us is one of the great challenges of life.
The garments don’t, for me, glorify her death for religious purposes. They emphasize the reality that this is a human being, somebody’s child, who is dying a painfully slow death in poverty. Possibly tuberculosis. And the only people who show up are from the church. They can’t bring her back to life. But they do bear witness to the value of this one child–if only his or her value to caregivers and a small dog. It seems to me this is the significance of the highlighted garments. The patient is the center of interest in this painting.
The other intriguing piece is that the artist himself was already suffering from tuberculosis, and died only two years after painting this. He was 33 years old. He was also an activist with his painting–drawing attention to the political, social and religious situation of Venezuela at that time. Sadly, Venezuela is now descending into another version of the misery we see depicted here. That’s one reason the painting caught my attention this week.
I do agree that sometimes the death of a child or even an adult can be glorified for all the wrong reasons. We’re human. Death is real. The person who died wasn’t a saint. Nor was he or she the worst sinner in the world. We do well to honor the full humanity of each ‘Somebody’s child’ who dies. No matter how old he or she may be.
Thanks for this comment, Brian. I understand the ambivalence about checking the like box…. 😦
Elouise
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Reblogged this on realchange4u and commented:
And we mourn with them.
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Loved this Elouise so much I reblogged it. Reminded me of the passing of my dad. All of had set up vigil in his room. Waiting for death to come. We were so sad. On a happier note. Glory to God my surgery went well and the melanoma margin they cut out came back clean. Praise Jesus . Thank you for your prayers.
Blessings Tom
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Such good news, Tom! As for the painting, it does indeed bring home the sadness of death. It also reminds me that every death is the death of somebody’s child and hopes for the future. As I know you’ve experienced as a parent. The presence of death in the room makes every moment of life more precious. Thank you for the reblog.
Love, Elouise
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You’re welcome Elouise
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