Mother of God – May Grant

MOTHER OF GOD

By May Grant

A loving, tragic figure hovers larger than his life.
Such a fine woman, a devout woman.
“Too young, too young,” she coos about his wedding plans.

Hear me, Holy Mother of us all!
Calm that woman’s mourning coo.
Numb her shriek across the universe.
What ugly, deformed character is not exquisite, perfect, to its mother?
Or a long-awaited sibling who surpasses that initial joy?
Multiply it further still by the whispered unbelief of “Twins!”

Watch them grow slowly.
Now watch them wither away.
See the joyous little nursery shrink:
First the daughter,
then the undistinguished “Twins,”
until only the eldest, prized son is left.
What princess qualifies to mate with such a cherished one?
What anxious guest provides some hope?

With hateful, futile logic, I pose the question:
“Could it have been caused at birth by the Rh factor?”
Filled with ancient anguish, bereft,
she dismissed my facile query.

With explosive breaths,
unspeakable grief backs into its lair,
gnawing, gnawing inside,
tingeing every act of love
with stony-pale shade.

A loving, tragic figure hovers over your life.
Such a fine woman, a devout woman.
Hear me, Holy Mother of us all.
Calm that woman’s mourning coo.


May Cornelia Grant has been writing all her life, non-professionally. Her articles have appeared in numerous small magazines and newspapers.

© 2011 May Cornelia Grant

Posted in Poems about the Virgin Mary.