Home » Poems » David Kavanagh » the son of man

Poet Ekphrasis

Notes About The Poem

The Son of Man

Painting by René Magritte

the son of man

I lived most my life ~ trying to hide the sin that made me who I am 

worse part I’d do it all again ~ rather than being seen as this sham

By
David Kavanagh

i amperspectivetruthekphrasis

♡Like4

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Andrea Dietrich

September 3, 2026 at 2:27 PM

I am not great at interpreting this kind of art but what I take from this is that we need to be our authentic selves. I try to be that way, but to please people, I think I am not always perfect at it. To please God is the important thing. A thought provoking mini poem.

David Kavanagh

September 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM

Yes keep it authentic Andrea, but not to the point it creates real discomfort or pain within, of course these absurdist paintings are designed to be open to interpretation, I’m agnostic myself so never rule in or out Gods or Goddesses; thanks so much for your honest appraisal, cheers David

Daniel Henry Rodgers

September 2, 2026 at 8:47 AM

Hello David, Woah, a dark, heavy honesty that hits with the force of a Davidian hammer. Pairing The Son of Man with this confession is a great choice. The constant human struggle to conceal what lies beneath the surface and you captured that exact psychological burden, but I believe takes it a step further into uncompromising self-awareness. You expose the paradox of human pride, which we often cling to our hidden flaws and repeat our darkest choices rather than face the vulnerability of being exposed as an imposter. A sharp, powerful, and deeply visceral piece of writing, David. I have a strong urge to go to confession. Blessings, Daniel

David Kavanagh

September 2, 2026 at 10:52 AM

Heya Daniel, maybe this is as near to a confessional that I’ll ever get again, of course I can only speak from my own paradoxical pov in this piece, but I have a feeling if people are brutally honest they may find themselves in here with the Son of Man, just as you described above, maybe not quite an imposter but a sham to themself, hope you read my poem I linked to Laurentine below which touches on my experiences in the confessional, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. always appreciated, cheers David

Ink Empress

September 1, 2026 at 11:57 AM

Not sure why, had a bl 🍎 🍎 dy long day! And I see this and Ive always said this in some personal way, as Iv known this feeling for so long 😱 I had also this epiphany today ~ Hmm I would rather be real than be loved for an imagined version of me ~ let me be all shades of craziness ~ but its true isnt it arent we all trying to hide the different ways we all sin, playing saint, calling others sin. I think this can be interpreted so many ways. I definitely need to write. Pleasure readin you ~ fav

David Kavanagh

September 1, 2026 at 12:33 PM

You’re not wrong there Ink, we have all indeed been playing the saint and calling each other sinners for millennia, maybe that’s the biggest sin of all! if there is such a thing! Ah imagine all this from such an absurdist painting, such is the power of human interpretation; keep it real for sure; You had an epiphany today, you better get writing, and share it with the world, thanks so much for stopping by and offering a fave, which I’d never refuse of course 😂 🪎 cheers David

Laurentine G

September 1, 2026 at 11:44 AM

I'm a Magritte fan & the great thing is he left his paintings open to interpretation. I think that's a pertinent point should the topic be on character too! Obviously there are no confessional boxes here, so "sin" could cover a wealth of things but I'll keep it light 🙃 but I too like to wear by flaws on the outside where everyone can see them rather than create any pretense that I'm something I'm not. You are a 5 star heart & soul from my pov any day of the week. Pleasure to read you today

David Kavanagh

September 1, 2026 at 12:12 PM

It really is a thought provoking painting Laurentine, I’m also sure you done an Ekphrasis on this very one! Mine is more a (monophrasis) lol! Yes indeed you are more likely to wear your flaws and give them a swirl for everyone to see, rather than hide them away, I think sin (Lin influenced) is doing a fair bit of work here, I remember using the confession box and making up lies in my poem, which was actually the truth — https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/hereafter_1559160 Thanks so much for your kind assessment of me, 2.5 stars would more than suffice, cheers David

Abdullah Alhemaidy

September 1, 2026 at 10:45 AM

Interesting short write!

David Kavanagh

September 1, 2026 at 11:15 AM

Heya Abdullah, be interesting to hear what you found interesting about my interesting short write, cheers David

Lin Lane

September 1, 2026 at 9:43 AM

Some wounds fester if ignored. Being who we are is something we must face by accepting who we are and trying to alter what we abhor. I’ve heard it’s a sham that Eve ate the apple. Adam wore the guilt of man in their Adam apples.

David Kavanagh

September 1, 2026 at 11:46 AM

I was already tentative about using wound, as wearing an apple on one’s face is likely to draw more attention lol! Whereas sin adds a whole new dimension, and may even shed some light on what Magritte was thinking, 🤔

Lin Lane

September 1, 2026 at 11:16 AM

I like the change, David. It seems to be more interpretive of what I think you're exploring, but then, I'm not always in tune with what your fingers are playing on the keyboard. Ha at 'Save face"

David Kavanagh

September 1, 2026 at 10:05 AM

Heya Lin I wasn’t going to mention Adam, but your comment inspired me to give this one a facelift and change wound to sin, they probably are interchangeable anyway, nah I’m just trying to save face lol! Cheers David

the son of man

Post Comments

Please Login to post a comment

Member Area

Soup Social

Member Poems

Member Poets

Famous Poems

Famous Poets

Poetry Resources