Only Luke allows
her this: teenaged and soft-lipped,
Mary approached mid-
evening by silver-plated
terror splendid and
light, wingèd man offering
hushed comfort and his
kind prophecy, her bitter-
sweet news.
There is an offer,
laid unadorned to this girl
upon her maiden
bed. A choice, placenta red
and blood-purple hued –
shame to earn, a son to bear.
Mary, crouched before
the angel bent and blessed,
consents
and sees anew. He
who is mighty, He who she
will choose – handmaiden
but by option and assent,
Mary with only
a body to tenderly
give, and the courage
to suckle the Lord from her
own chest.
To Marvelous Light 