Good Mary

Good Mary,
_____Traveling to Bethlehem,
_____Toiling to bear the gift,
_____Travailing near a manger,
What is this you’re doing?

What is this I’m doing?
_____Trying to give birth to the Resurrection and the Life,
_____Turning in my stomach and my thoughts,
_____Taking difficult, wonderful breaths,
_____Trusting in the sovereign plan,
_____Tasting the relief of delivery,
_____Transfixing on my son,
_____Treasuring in my heart,
_____Tearing up,
_____Tearing up,
What is this I’m doing?

Good Mary,
_____Traveling from Magdala,
_____Toiling to bear the loss,
_____Trembling near the grave,
What is this you’re doing?

What is this I’m doing?
_____Trying to grieve the death of the One who resurrected my life,
_____Turning to see a man . . . and hearing my name,
_____Taking difficult, wonderful breaths,
_____Transforming in a moment of joy,
_____Tasting the relief of deliverance,
_____Transfixing on the Son,
_____Treasuring his life,
_____Tearing up,
_____Tearing up,
What is this I’m doing?

Author’s Notes:

This poem is the sequel to my earlier poem, “Good Joseph.” When read together, this one is intended to go second. They are the same structure with similar devices. The key note of difference is in the emotion at the end. Joseph of Arimathea is left in perplexed sorrow while Mary Magdalene experiences exuberant joy.

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