Wednesday, August 16, 2017

THE LISTENER


THE LISTENER

Mary was full of listening
and the Word
was uttered in her silence
like a bellstroke.

In Mary was no threat
of clangour. She was still
as summer-skies
wide-armed to wait the Sun.

Mary was full of stillness,
that she heard the Ghostly overshadow
quiet as power,
fall like crescendoing thunder
on her soul.

Only a word,
a brave consent low-spoken
but every stone in hell
went limp as rag.
The heavens shot up in flame.
There was no hindrance
in Mary, quiet as humility.

The soft-strung Word
lost in negotiation,
pierced Mary's bosom
like a clarion.
In here there was no din,
there was no traffic,
Mary was full of listening,
full of grace.

Mother M Francis PCC
Friar. May 1969
Used with permission

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