The Dormition of the Mother of God

The Dormition of the Mother of God
She sleeps who
knew no rest here.
Promised early on a
knife in her soul
watching relatives, friends,
multitudes... dividing, deciding,
and finally calling for the blood
of the Word clothed in
her very own flesh.
Stabat Mater Dolorosa,
all through the grisly passion
a helpless harmony,
the tears that would not stop,
the convulsive grief,
then all life leaving,
from her eyes...
from his wounds.
Now he returns to take
her soul and body
Home.
She of the abused and powerless.
She of the stifled and wordless.
She of the empty and outcast.
She is crowned forever
Queen of all heaven and earth
In the kingdom of the
Beatitude reversals.
And we her waiting children
are assured such an ending.
After dust, we too shall be
carried Home
In the radiant mandorla
of the rising Son.
Fr Bill McNichols 1994
(For August 15 2019)