El Greco: Espolio - Earle Birney

Those in our society who are builders or innovators must take some responsibility for the things they make. Earle Birney (1), in a poem titled, "El Greco: Espolio," describes the carpenter who built the cross on which Christ was crucified, stating "his skill is vital to the scene / and the safety of the state" which clearly suggests that those who create something of significance function in a vital way that serves the interests of society. While it might be extreme to use the example of the Roman carpenter who built Christ's cross, the reality of the situation is that those who build and create do not do so in a vacuum, but are part and parcel of some system or some process that puts forces into motion for go

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