Salman Masalha
RE: the poem of 19 December 2024, “Our Lady of Palestine” (Culture Matters)
Vivian Eden
Our Lady to Gabriel
Dear Gabriel R.,I rarely reply to people I don’t know
but maybe you’re that Gabriel from long ago
who interrupted me while I was trying to read,
to inform me I was about to conceive
though betrothed to my cousin,* an older guy
I wouldn’t have chosen had they let me try.
We managed. Joe Davidson was patient and kind
and a good
carpenter – our furniture was nice
and Jesus was a lovely, interesting
child,
clever, intense and sometimes quite wild
(don’t believe
preachers who say he was mild),
but I never had to tell him anything
twice –
he respected me and wouldn’t have dared interrupt.
He argued
with anyone he knew was corrupt.
He was kind to animals and did
them no harm
and was blessed with great charisma and charm.
He grew
up to be gentle, eloquent and wise
and many people flocked to his
side.
He preached love for all who live in the world
though we
weren’t sure he really liked girls,
which is fine. I’d have loved
grandchildren on my knees
but that, as you know, was never to be.
Of
course I wept as he died in great pain –
her dying child drives any
mother insane
in Jerusalem, Gaza, Sudan or Ukraine
Belfast, Syria –
all without blame.
Nowadays I read much more than I pray
but noblesse
oblige, as they say –
I’ve been Our Lady, so your Lady I’ll stay,
and
intercede for those who, that October day,
were abducted, tortured,
murdered and raped
or later bombed, starved, blocked from escape,
losing
homes, minds and maybe faith,
because of fear, arrogance, greed and
hate,
exploited by leaders, abandoned to fate,
by
men who’d end in Hell if it were a real place
where, post-death, all
sinners get thrown,
no matter how powerful, rich or well-known
but
as a Jew and a reader, this I can tell:
After
this world, there is no Hell.
I wish all women, men and children good
cheer –
peace on Earth, health and a Happy New Year.
Yours,
BVM**
NOTES
* Both Joseph and Mary are said to be descended from the House of David.
