An introductory prayer from Mary
The opening poem from a collection titled “The life and times of Mary” who may or may not be an alter ego, and may or may not have existed.
An introductory prayer from Mary
Lord, father, ghost, these are my prayers,
My cries born of the branch, my fears,
These are my dying dreams, my hopes,
They are the sharpening past, its tears.
Lord, my words pencilled, doubly inked
Stare at me from the shrouded page –
Stars bright, unbright, long dead,
To me still alive, without age.
Untilted, gravity beckons,
The grave, open, appled,
Leers with its one eye,
A grand bingo, beacons
Flaring, burning through the chill
And I am tempted to close, bend,
Then she, her face, her tall boned will,
Pulls, points me to another end.
I sheathe the blade, pick up my pen.
© Bhi 2023
Views: 430
This is an indulgent piece, if i must say so. What’s this rubbish about the blade and the pen?
I think many of us look at both the blade and the pen, and it’s a toss up. For me I enjoyed this, I picture you hunched over a pad with your pen. But I also see Sisyphus, which is there in us all if we allow him in. Will Mary pray again? Cheers. Phil.
Phil,
Mary is definitely going to pray again. This is the first poem in her life’s sequence.
bhi
Bhi, passionate lines in this prayer. Like the surprise line, “A grand bingo, beacons,” Dying dreams but stars long dead yet still alive to Mary. Contrasts. Almost seems a prayer to her muse, not god.
CW,
The knife was poised and then as she lifted her face, the mirror showed the reflection of another, and in that other was the essence she was looking for. She is tempted to let go and fall, but this face pulls her back. Begins with a prayer to god, ends with her muse.
THE grave? are you talking about THAT grave?
Yes.
so is this Mary not Virgin Mary but Mary Magdalene?
Nic, not too sure what happened to my previous reply, but seems only the “yes” remained.
It should have said, “Yes, I am talking about that grave, but the Mary has no relationship to that story. This is a woman i knew and the collection will describe key points in her life.”
bhi