Transfiguration

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Behind a Japanese screen
awash in the muted flame of
cathedral candles flickering
kneels Mary
her lips twin hummingbirds fluttering
moved by the mysteries of prayers floating
heavenward on smoke tails spiraling
from incense kites burning

Not given to idle talk
a woman of measured words that
dry like dandelion manes becoming
cotton wisps puffing
windward on breaths of
solemnity and contemplation  exhaling

With covered head and tempered heart
Mary seeks spiritual guidance for
her day journey dawning
in the soup kitchen serving
hungry guests hobbling
on frostbitten feet thawing
 
Dressing  in a charcoal sweater
and camelhair coat of 
thrift shop counter rummaging
in her pallor  illuminating
otherwordly in her self-denying
she solicits the praise of God knowing
an overabundance of blessings flowing
on our faces falling
from the lesser things of life shunning
Mary dwells alone in the room of
her patron saints

Behind a Japanese screen
ablaze in the lucent glare of
fluorescent neon pulsating
stands Magdalena
her mouth a crimson cavern puking
filthy tavern talk  drifting
outward on a nicotine balloon poisoning
neglected potted plants fading
 
Given to shiftless gossip
a woman of  immeasurable words that
wail and screech like sirens piercing
virginal eardrums aching
inward from assaults of
levity and discordance vibrating

With hennaed hair and untempered heart
Magdalena seeks psychic horoscopes for
her night journey flaunting
in the Land of Nod clubbing
with gyrating bodies tempting
voyeuristic fantasies fulfilling

Dressing in a spandex tube top
and tight stretch pants of
erotic boutique rack shopping
in her sanguine revealing
worldly in her self-indulging
she solicits the praise of man knowing
an overabundance of burdens weighing
on our backs falling
from the baubles and bangles of loose living
Magdalena dwells alone in the room of
her temporal idols

During the vernal equinox
comes a meeting of
two spirits merging
conjoins Mary and Magdalena
face to face seeing
side by side walking
on a staircase of stars ascending
through portals of firmament traveling
beyond mere mortal limitations lifting
feet of clay reality transfiguring
on a potter's wheel of beauty breathtaking
On their  eyes pennies placing
for the ferryman's fare paying
to ride the ferry crossing
the river of tormenting
touching the shore of souls resting
don't look back delivering
Mary and Magdalena prostrating
themselves at the foot of a cross shining
where the ground is leveling
and the rebirth promising
together knowing
we must start over and 
over and over
again


Copyright © Linda L. Bielowski, Ph.D.

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