Friends, dear, far and near, some of you are on our mailing list, but alack, not all. Every year we write a poem at Christmas. Sometimes it is a collaboration, and often one or the other makes editorial suggestions, some stronger than others...heh. This year I was the author. By The Bug's official tally, that makes us even at ten each. This year's poem was inspired, at least indirectly, by Tess Kincaid, author of the blog
Life at Willow Manor, poet extraordinaire, and producer of
Magpie Tales, which features a weekly writing prompt. Thank you so much for Magpie Tales, Tess! I responded to this prompt last December with a poem, a revised and expanded version of which follows:
Queen Mother
Mother, invested with crown,
Blood-stain red halo,
Glassy-eyed pale visage,
Lead-solder heavy burden
Cradled in your strong arms...
Master craftsmen of yore
Immortalized you this way,
And so, in turn, do we.
What happened to that
Brown-eyed, dark-haired girl,
Still young, but naïve no more?
How often did you cry “Why”
As your child grew within
While you were shunned
From without? Did you shout
“eli eli lama sabachthani” too?
We appeal to you, Mary,
In our times of trouble,
For you are the one
Who brought forth
The Son on whom
We now gaze in wonder:
“Vision of glory, this Child
Asleep on the hay.”
Pray, should we also ponder
What was asked of you,
Oh Blessed Madonna,
By Our Father in Heaven
Whose child you carried,
Raised, loved, and buried:
The One who made your belly
A swelling vessel of Presence?
Mike & Dana Rhyne
Christmas 2011
May you experience grace, peace, and love,
in this season and always!
Dr. L.
