Iconostasis, edit 2: Caleb, Mark, Joseph, Matt, Achebe

[Magpie]

I very much agree with Achebe about this poem in how good it is yet also I needed the key to be able to understand it, once I had that key there was a lot more to be found in the poem and it gets better with each read.

I'm glad I commented on it in the manner that I did, by saying that I didn't understand it but also by giving my thoughts as I went through it. That said though, if I were to come to the latest version as a fresh poem I would probably leave a very similar critique as I did originally in terms of style. I'm convinced that there is a way in which a small change can bridge that gap to understanding and supply the key to the reader. Ultimately, only you will really know what that change is, but to be honest I think you are onto something in your reply to me and the quote below.

.....which is that all that imagery is supposed to invoke Orthodox icons. Browns of flesh was a simple description: most of the icons I've seen used browns and yellows for flesh, yet I've already put gold leaf in; and flecks, too, but in retrospect the wrong word. And so, I've changed the title to "Icon", although that feels equally inadequate -- perhaps "Fresco"?

'Icon' is definitely a better title than the previous 'Basilica' but it still doesn't feel quite right. I understand where you are going with 'Fresco' but I think that takes it back in the direction of 'Basilica'. 'Fresco' makes me think Florence, Italian Renaissance and ultimately Raphael and Michelangelo which is definitely leaning in a Catholic direction.

I've been through a few thoughts starting with spelling icon as either ikon or eikon which brings it closer to Orthodox through the Greek language but doesn't change the issue too much. I thought about 'logos' in the philosophy sense but then the religious sense kind of steps on its toes. I went through logic to rationale with the 'e' which would work in many ways because the poem is the narrator's 'rationale' but the word itself is from the Latin which takes us back to Catholicism. My final thoughts were 'sanctuary', related to a holy place 'sanctum' yet with other connotations of refuge and asylum and yet again Latin (I think). There's shrine? Too much? Syllogism?? Yeah I know? And then this new word that I found in the course of looking..

iconostasis or iconostas - (Eastern Church) a screen with doors and icons set in tiers, which separates the bema (sanctuary) from the nave. From Late Greek eikonostasion shrine, literally: area where images are placed, from ICONO- + histanai to stand.

I'll just leave them all and perhaps one might make you think of another idea altogether, or perhaps not, either way etymology is fucking brilliant isn't it   

Mark