The Raven Is Lost In The Woods
An original acrylic painting on primed panel
8" X 10", unframed
( Click on image to enlarge.)
This little painting is one from a series of book paintings I did a few years ago. I'm not
sure whether or not I considered it finished at that time. It has a more somber tone than
some of the other works in the series, but perhaps that is appropriate. It does seem to fit
in well with the coming season of ghosts and goblins. I recall that, around this time of
year, Mr. Poe was fond of giving readings of his famous, eerie poem, as an entertainment
for guests.
There is no particular reason why this book of poems should become lost in a gloomy,
dark woods, just as there is no reason for any books to become lost, but they do. Things
do get lost. But the real problem comes when books are deliberately taken away from us,
by ignorant, small-minded politicians, who believe they have the right to take away our
freedom of speech, and the freedom to read what other people want to tell us.
I noticed this week, that the last week of September is designated as Banned Book
Week. I don't know how many people may have seen that reminder, and found
themselves some good, banned books to read, but I hope there were many who did so.
It seems to me that it is always the semi-illiterate folks among us, who inevitably try to
censor what we are reading, as soon as they gain the political power to do it. They don't
actually read the books they take away from us. If they did read the valuable information
they try to destroy, they might actually learn something. They are simply determined to
prevent anyone from reading about people whose lives are too uncomfortably, different
from their own lifestyles and beliefs. They are unable to overcome their prejudices and
fears, of anyone who they see as somehow unworthy of full participation in society, with
the full freedoms of self determination, whether because of their race, country of origin,
religion, sexual orientation, or a variety of other differences, which they deem as
somehow not fully acceptable.
These stupid autocrats gain their positions of power because the voters who put
them in office. are just as illiterate and prejudiced as they are, if not more so. But
the day may come when those voters finally realize that if you take away the rights
of a few of us, you take away the rights of all of us. When they feel the pain of lost,
personal freedoms themselves, they may well say, like Mr. Poe's raven, "Nevermore!"
Eugene P. McNerney
