וירא / Sight and Fright
are held together in a mutual embrace. (ראיה , and sight (re'iya (יראה , Fright (yir'ah
In some instances fear opens one's eyes to reality,
and they see straight, deep, into the white of fear.
at its utmost intense, (אורה , Such vision, illuminated (ora
,(ארי , makes one feel fearless as a lion (ari
In some instances, fear makes one draw in.
Thus he may easily avoid its gaze,
because when the shutters of his eyes are closed, he may flee
without distinguishing between wakeful awe and deep sleep.
- - -
Fear has no concrete aspect.
It is essentially hidden in the depths,
crawling, rustling, permeating, infiltrating one's bones.
A lucid, perceptive eye, however, which meets another in the mirror,
opens wide, torn, seeing fear bursting forth from within.
- - -
I painted a big, elliptical, wide open eye.
What does it see? What does it fear?
is inscribed inside its expanded pupil. "וירא" The word
A large elliptical eye, or, perhaps, thick lips,
."וירא" : wide open, uttering-crying
