From now on all generations will call me blessed.
I spoke with angel.
He spoke peace
as I was troubled, favoured
troubled, favoured.
Peace.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
My love’s eyes moist, betrayal perceived
in me
who could believe
conceived
the inconceivable.
From now on all generations will call me blessed
as I carry the seed of the life of God
God's law condemns me to death.
Cannot the grace of my love
be graced to him?
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
I must leave my home
as baby grows.
Elizabeth takes me into her home.
Refuge in a home
away from home
she knows
the possible
of the impossible.
The Lord has provided for me.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
My love, God assured, has taken me into his home
with him, I am home.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Again I must leave my home
by order to stroke
the king’s ego
bearing baby’s rhythmic press on pelvis
rise and fall upon donkey.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
With pain I labour
Where there’s no room for rest, comfort, hygiene
I deliver Life.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
I lay my baby boy in feeding trough
scratch, crusty food remains from its walls.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Shepherds tongue-tied
wide light-struck eyes
try
to describe God's glory.
With voices caught by awe
they declare my son to be Christ.
The Lord has exalted those of humble estate.
From now on all generations will call me blessed
as men steeped in wisdom
find
the prize
of their pilgrimage
my son
in whom they delight.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
I must flee my home
lest my son be killed under king’s ego.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Turtle doves two
pigeons two
all I have to offer to
he who is mighty.
At the sight of my son a man can die
a woman rejoices
proclaiming him to be redemption
and a sword will pierce my soul also.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
For three days, distressed I search for my son
wondering why God entrusted me with his son
on finding him he responds to my distress
philosophising it to be needless
for I should have known
he’d be in his father's home.
From now on all generations will call me blessed
as we celebrate in abundance
love and wine flow.
Abundance
is in my son.
He has come.
From now on all generation will call me blessed
as my son questions who are his mother and brothers
declaring the many are his mothers and brothers.
Who wiped his tears
relished snuggles
spoon fed him?
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
With lies
they testify
cry
Crucify.
My stomach spins.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Every lash
lashing my heart.
He is bleeding
I am bleeding.
His skin torn
my heart also.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Nails pierce his hands
sword pierces my soul also.
He strains to breathe
I struggle to breathe.
The sky smothered in darkness
and I am smothered in darkness.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Guttural groans, splatters, eyes filled with love and pain and compassion
as he hangs alone
he ensures I am not alone
and John is not alone
our belonging to each other.
From now on all generations call me blessed.
My son.
My love.
My hope.
My purpose
dead.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
My son.
My love.
My Lord.
My Saviour.