OUR LADY OF THE ASCENSION

OUR LADY OF THE ASCENSION[1]

Fold your love like hands around the moment.

Keep it for conference with your heart, that exit

caught on clocks, by dutiful scribes recorded

less truly than in archives of your soul.

Turn back from His going, be His still-remaining,

lift the familiar latch on cottage door ...

discover His voice in corners, hear His footsteps

run down the porches of your thoughts!  No Powers

however hoarse with joy, no Dominations

limp with adoration guess what whispers

of: “Mother, look!” And: “Mother, hurry!”

glance off the cottage walls in shafts of glory.

How shall your heart keep swinging longer, Mary?

Quickly, quickly, take the sturdy needle

before your soul crowds through your flesh – the needle

and stout black thread will save you!  Take the sandal

Peter left for mending.  After that,

the time is short, with bread to bake for John.

Mother M Francis PCC

Cord.  August 1958

Used with permission

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[1]  The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ is referred to here.  The poem is a reference to the loneliness Mary must have suffered after returning from seeing her Son ascend into heaven forty days after His Resurrection.