IT'S ADVENT ALREADY!

WHAT WAS MARY TO THINK? WHAT WOULD YOU THINK

“If I had been the Virgin Mary I would have said ‘No.’” – Margaret “Stevie” Smith (1902-1971)

 

No!

Get out of my dreams!

I am betrothed

but he has not forced

himself on me nor asked

me to lie with him.

What would he think

if I told him an angel

came in a dream

and asked me to make

a baby without him?

Oh, no. My parents would send

me away and the neighbors

might flog me. Oh, no, I don’t

even know how this “holy spirit”

 thing would get inside me.

Besides, I’m a sinner; I think

unholy things and sometimes

act on them. I wish, oh how I wish

I knew why

this angel chose me.

I dare not tell Mother.

I’ll visit Aunt Elizabeth

and see what she makes of it:

What does” highly favored” mean?

“Oh, child, if you have the same dream

tonight, be sure and respond willingly.

God has something good in mind.”

So I screwed up my courage

and prayed to Jehovah for guidance.

Sure enough, the angel came back.

“For you are highly favored by God

and you are on earth most blest.

 “Fear not, for God is with you

And you shall bear a child.

His name shall be called Jesus,

God’s offspring from on high.

And he shall reign forever.”

But I'm not yet a wife!

The angel had an answer:

“The power of the Most High

will come upon you soon.

Your child will be God’s child.”

Again, I wondered at his words,

remembered Aunt Elizabeth’s

advice and answered.

I am your lowly handmaid.

So be it, I am ready,

according to your word.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 [--Parts of this poem are adapted from Gracia Grindal’s hymn “To A Maid Engaged to Joseph"]

c 2016 PL