You might have heard the famous story of Samson and Delilah, and here is a depiction by the famous Peter Paul Rubens. First I recommend you just enjoy this painting!

Who are all these people in this painting? For a moment forget about the story, which is not based on literal history anyway, and try to imagine a context for what happened here and what is about to happen.

Was it right for Samson to trust Delilah? Didn’t that lead him to his final doom? Yet, which is better, to lie down for one moment in the arms of someone you love and to let the world burn without a care, or to live all your life careful not fall into a trap like that? Should we still trust people enough to fall in love with them?

Do you think Samson knew what was coming, but he came to his lover, anyway? Would you have done the same?

Can I dare to say that love is our greatest strength and greatest weakness at the same time; that love breaks us, tears our hearts apart, humiliates us, and brings us down that we can hardly find the strength to stand up again; it can do all that, but it is the thing that proves to us we are still human. You may be in disagreement, and I respect that, but I think that love has built this world and hatred is destroying all that is beautiful in it.

Write a short story, or a poem about what you can discern from this painting and share a link to your story with us here on Danny B. You can be generous and share a link to this writing prompt on your website or your social media.