Pic and a Word #143: Big

The subject of Big had me reach for Niki de Saint Phalle’s Oracle from her Tarot Garden. She is the grandest I know.

Sometimes

I’m confronted with it
So big
So far to go

This is how Patrick begins his poem for this week’s Pic and a Word challenge. And towards the end he writes this truth:

Wherever I get
That will have to be
Far enough

In the south of Tuscany there is the Tarot Garden (Il giardino dei tarocchi) with sculptures of tarot cards by Niki de Saint Phalle. I wrote about the Devil yet. But now here is her.

The Oracle

is a she.
She has snakes for hands
and she is big enough and wise enough
to make father cautiously apprehensive
and mother mimic her.
Some stay the hell away
yet sister feels inspired
while I spy on her at first
keep a tree between us
but then approach from behind
and realise that
– like so many fears, promises and beliefs –
she is hollow too
with a cosy little spot
red and shiny
like the inside of the womb
for weary travellers through life
to rest and wait
to turn into what
they are to become
in order to die.

The Oracle is a she.

She has snakes for hands.

Father is cautiously apprehensive.

Mother tries to mimic her.

Some stay the hell away.

Sister feels inspired.

I spy on her at first.

Keep a tree between us.

She is hollow too.

A cosy little spot.

In response to Patrick Jennings’ Pic and a Word Challenge #143: Big