Mary, Mother

She was just another village girl
olive fleshed teen dressed
in desert brown
sneaking out to meet up with friends
on familiar paths of Judean Hills
 
Until an angel swooped in
a rush of wings
like a bird of prey
left the girl drenched  
ravished by the Word of God
 
The attention it brought
the way people talked . . .
 
Friends wouldn’t recognize her now
robed in gold and larkspur blue
nimbus round
her porcelain head
 
Just a girl
fretful child
strapped to her back
walking dusty hills
singing  dreaming
of the night
when he would sleep