She lived in New Orleans for more than forty years, but now lives in Houston, Texas.
Born in 1934, Brosman has published more than fifteen poetry collections, including Fire in the Mind: Poems New and Selected (Mercer University Press, 2026). Claude Wilkinson has called her "one of this country's finest poets."
The following poem appears in Fire in the Mind. The poem refers to an icon of Christ from the Deesis Mosaic in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.
Christ Pantokrator
His right hand raised, its slender fingers curled,
the left hand holding up the holy book.
He offers His salvation to the world,
and blessing from the One whom it forsook.
The figure dominates the apse, its cloak
of blue hald-open, seeming to embrace
all those who would assume His gentle yoke,
and find redemption in His sacred face.
Reflections from the dome illuminate
with gold the nimbused cross around His head;
below, archangels, Virgin saints await
the resurrection of the ransomed dead.
His steady eyes appear to turn their gaze
on every viewer—deep, unblinking, dark,
yet luminous and searching as the rays
that light the nave, the covenant’s new ark.
Anonymous, just strangers in a crowd,
like those who stood on a Judean hill
to watch, and heard Him as He cried aloud,
we know the power of His passion still.
The letters come alive, the voice is clear,
as though, through two millennia, we heard
the Christ Pantokrator among us here
proclaim, in words, Himself, the perfect Word.
What of this wonder can I take away—
with photos, and a very human pride?
The palm of life, a soul become the prey
of burning love, the body glorified.
Posted with permission of the poet.
This post was first suggested by my friend Burl Horniachek.
Entry written by D.S. Martin. He is the author of six poetry collections including Angelicus (2021, Poiema/Cascade), plus three anthologies — available through Wipf & Stock. His new book The Role of the Moon, inspired by the Metaphysical Poets, is now available from Paraclete Press.