I Confess

Ainara REYES reflects on, and is read by, Domenico Fetti's 'The Penitent Magdelene', c. 1632.

Repentance is nothing but affective performance, and salvation is by tears alone. This is not the doctrine of the Protestants, and the Catholics would not claim it to be theirs. In fact, it is insincere to call it a doctrine at all. Rather, it is read in the painting The Penitent Magdalene (Domenico Fetti), which reads me.

I Confess

The body has trembled, weeping, wailing spent. 
Sobering, her tears, or what has been left.
A vague resignation, her mind’s in a lull
With melancholic thoughts, but thoughts matter null.

Behold, this sickly, beautiful toil.
Remind man whose skin she anointed with oil. 
Faith lengthens the lungs, and levers the breath; 
Dampened, subdued by a man we call Death.

Still, her tears veil a sacred salvation;
Mourning waits upon her sentenced condemnation. 
The incline – leperous heaven, a glorious hell.
The Saints and the Sinners resign parallel.

Christ, there is not– Mine guilt not forgot.