you are a hard one
staring off as you do
gentle eyes throwing pity
to every hidden thing
hairless head revealing
each crease of question
brother true arm wrapped
as to claim, she is mine,
death will not touch
and if it should try
I go first fending
the blizzard whole
oh, you are a hard one,
inscrutable, holy, choosing
me to speak your words
knowing I will fail,
having absolved me
before I begin
Poems from in between 
12 responses to “Madonna child”
I go first fending
the blizzard whole
Such a poem for December. You do what I wish I could–calling up what we can’t get the direct words for, working around it. Hmm, I think it’s time for some more borrowing of lines. 🙂
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That would be great! Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
I will say that I had rare inspiration for this poem — an incredible photo of two of the patients in our hospital. Probably thousands of photos of sick and well children have crossed my desk over my career, but this one just knocked me over. I will never do justice to it. We can only do our best … I wish I could share it, but the family would need to consent to this use and they have more important things to think about. 🙂
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Thank you for sharing the story–I sensed a strong and visual inspiration. I just love that “brother true arm” and can see it.
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Wow, the ending is striking. Great poem!
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Thank you! So good to get that feedback.
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[…] to Nathan for the set of tritina words, and to Jenifer, from whose very different and beautiful poem I lifted the blizzard […]
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Arrived here from a link posted on Graceful Press Poetry. I love the whole poem but the first stanza stands out for me.
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Thank you! And thanks also for visiting!
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Oh, this is so touching. I had a similar experience of the divine in suffering when I went to El Salvador after an earthquake to nurse…others as well. Sacred moments.
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Ah, of course you would see what is under this. Thank you!
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A lovely true poem and each stanza is powerful, the last moving. Well done. Deeply felt.
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Thank you! That means a great deal to me. It is particular projec of mine to give voice to these children, such as I can.
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