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Among the images used to describe human sexuality within the Song of Song are the images of creation. Creation is described as a witness to the ways in which human love and sexuality are portrayed. Also, it is a means by which the lovers experience each other.
For example, the beloved is described as a garden/vineyard (4:12-13) that produces choice fruit. In 7:12, the lover takes his beloved to the vineyard in order to give his love to her. The beloved describes her lover as an apple tree among the trees of the wood to compare the lover to other young men (2:3). Using the imagery from the animal kingdom, the beloved describes the strength and vitality of her lover with the image of a gazelle (2:9). In 5:1 (English), the lover invites the beloved to his garden to watch him play with spices, honey, wine and milk.
The point here is that human love and sexuality is not something experienced in isolation. It is an experience that is celebrated by all of creation. One could dare to say, that aspects of creation help to heighten the experience of human sexuality.
The above picture is a portrait by the artist He Qi. Dr. He Qi is a Chinese artist whose work is celebrated in many parts of the world. The picture here is a scene from the Song of Song. Of particular importance are the creation images he uses to capture the ways in which creation celebrates and participates in the lovers’ sexuality.
Shalom!
RRB
