You Are My Mary
Go cast your stones if you will, and tell me
Your innocence is more just than her cause
Or read me in sand, flee her victory
Where you link the chain of demonic laws
For she a slave of your intent consent none
To this, but hostage of your will and greed
Whipped by necessity to a blind sun
She paid your pound of flesh, and virtues bleed
For better judgment where I intercede
Her sovereign love my sure kingdom's seed.
She rose seven times, for just here she fell
Her hair to wipe my grief, my pain urging hell
Upon her hectic heart, her tears my balm:
Her love mauled, frames the cross fore me in calm
ii
You are my Mary, ever so I deem
My ardent alabaster memory
The brimming balm of my bright healing stream
The paradox of love and history
Let no paltry scholar your virtue stain
Nor prelate assault your virtue's domain
For love cancels a thousand faults more
Than sins that litter mercy's teeming shore
I will cover you when raw winds blow cold
I'll be your shade from the blaze of noon
And love you best of earth's sweet jealous fold
You are my sovereign of stars or moon
O Mary, don't you weep, don't you cry, behold
My heart, I lay me down your street of gold.
iii
No woman so deserves my heart like you
No sinner more my love makes once more new
No blemish, spot, or taint of wrong in you
No love for me more constant and more true
O Magdala, Magdala, no wise men
Gift as sweet, or to their purpose remain
As your sweet honor, vilified and rend
Did ever assuage the loom of my pain.
I love you till there shall be no more sea
I love you till mountains are fled and gone
I love you till time turns to eternity
I love you through the everlasting dawn
O Mary, let me wipe away all tears
From your eyes, give me the cross of your cares.
iv
One day before we build another house
Or plant a vineyard new, to the garden
Come, here with me, and be my ransomed spouse
And jasmines plant in love's sweet heaven
And hibiscus for the honey I'll drink
Like a hummingbird at your sacred tongue
One day love, ere the stars forever sink
And angels ascend the breathless rung
We will smell the jasmines blooming, and kiss
Upon the scented air, we will embrace
Our drowsed dreams within the wakening mist
And laugh like children in love's fragrant place
One day love, the time of separation
Will past, then Mary, our celebration!
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