Transactions
Liana Chaplain
He waited with eager desire for the moment to see his prediction verified, and for as extraordinary
a phenomenon as that of Venus on the Sun. The day arrived, and agreeable to his expectation he
saw Venus wholly entered upon the Sun at 3 h. 1 5 m. P. M. 1
2
A ray of light and a quiet moment
in front of all the Earth.
Venus reaches for the Sun’s hem
Bleeding hot.
The Sun’s limb
reached back
Crowds press
eyes against telescopes
Gaze gravitating
towards a shadow upon a yellow Sun.
An expectation becomes an ellipsis,
3 dots to diagram an encounter.
The faith of a world in orbit.
And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before
him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been
immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” 3
Liana Chaplain is a sophomore concentrating in Art History.
From page 2 of An account of the observation of Venus upon the sun, the third day of June, 1769, at Providence, in New
England. With some account of the use of those observations, by Benjamin West. Full text available at The John
Carter Brown Library.
2
Diagram from page 17 of An account of the observation of Venus upon the sun.
3
Luke 8:47- 48 ESV
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