Writers often talk about how the characters take over the story.  This happened to me as I worked with the clay in this case.  The hand would not get into proper proportion.  When I wrote the poem much later, I saw this large hand as an emotional statement.  When one is being assisted, the hand that helps appears out of proportion to what is happening around the actors.  God became visible for me in this act of Simon, despite all that is unknown about Simon and his motivations.

Station 5— Simon Compelled to Carry the Cross　

That hand, Jesus–

How big it must have looked to you,

a human hand stretched out

lifting your burden.

Hand of one unknown to you,

in the crowd of mixed intentions.

Compelled by love or virtue or

simply the rule of current law,

a hand interrupting the circle of violence.

In one small opportunity

in one large moment

the Hand of God.

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A reminder: the stations and the photographs as well as the poems are the property of the artist.  Contact her for information and permission to use.