The Magdalene

[Sparkydashforth]

I have this urge to sway
on street corners in a derelict way,
disheveled, a little drunk,
an impulse to praise Mary,
not the Virgin, but her
less immaculate namesake.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
Our Lord is with you.

Perhaps the sound of my voice
will de-ice parked cars, straighten
shopping cart wheels, save a kid’s
balloon from escaping?

Blessed are you among women,
And blessed the fruit of your womb.

The fruit of your womb goes downtown.
A truck narrowly misses a cat.
A door is held open for an expectant mother.
A smile from a mean looking youth.
It begins to rain. Snow turns to slush.
The winter evening slaps our cheeks.

Pray for us sinners.

A handcuffed Magdalene steps into a
police cruiser,
the cops are smiling, she's smiling.
They have done this before.................edited

Now and at the hour of our death.

An old man in a thin jacket
huddles cold bones against a wolfish wind.
He will arrive, survive the teeth.

It is Happy Hour.
The Magdalene will be serving,
tending in her own way,
to good company and bad.

[Lizzie]

Sparky: I love the conceit of this. The content is engaging, and the idea of praising the more human versions of Mary is intriguing to pursue. My main quibble is with how many full stops there are in the middle stanzas -- the first two full stanzas and the last flow very well, but in between it's like stop and start traffic. From "the fruit of your womb" to "they have done this before" could be loosened up a little for the reader. That's my take on it, anyway. But, fully enjoyed the content. Thanks for posting.

P.S. Did you mean for the title to be "The Magdalene?"

[Sparkydashforth]

Hi Lizzie,

well that S3 is intentional. I meant it to be staccato, it speaks better than it looks.
I sure do agree with you about S4 though, it's got a bad case of the jitters.

Did I spell Magdalene wrong? There are several ways that I have come across.

a la vie

Sparky: I love the conceit of this. The content is engaging, and the idea of praising the more human versions of Mary is intriguing to pursue. My main quibble is with how many full stops there are in the middle stanzas -- the first two full stanzas and the last flow very well, but in between it's like stop and start traffic. From "the fruit of your womb" to "they have done this before" could be loosened up a little for the reader. That's my take on it, anyway. But, fully enjoyed the content. Thanks for posting.

P.S. Did you mean for the title to be "The Magdalene?"

[Quixilated]

Did I spell Magdalene wrong? There are several ways that I have come across.
]

Your title is missing the d.
---

To change/adjust your title just click the full edit option (the pencil). Or I can do it for you if you like. ..... I changed it for you. I hope that's ok.

[Sparkydashforth]

Did I spell Magdalene wrong? There are several ways that I have come across.
]

Your title is missing the d.

O yea