(For MARY THE 'HOR"
from the play "MARY M and THE MAD PROPHET" by Griselda Steiner)

I've tasted the tongues of men
Taken their weight
Released their waste             

I've tasted the bitter herbs
Green and brown leaves
That made me bleed

When I was young
My body warm with the sun
I was with men
By the river
In the tall weeds
In the fruit groves
Under shade trees

In tents
On the hills
I slept in the sands
Wearing a cool dress of winds

Like a black star
Deep in the hearts of men
They kept my secret
And I wandered free
They gave me bread and meat

One day on the road
Men threw stones at an adulteress
Blood ran over rocks

I heard her cries of anguish
I felt her death
When the men saw me
They dropped their rocks on the road

Hatred in my breast
Lusting in my loins
The men took me on the ground
Opening a cavern
Of obsession

I lay in the dirt
Broken
In pain
I wore the wounds of my life
On my soul that night

In the morning
In the pale sun
I filled my body with wine
Nothing in my mind

As I bathed in the River Jordan
Sitting on a rock
Dressed in my hair
John prophesized the coming
Of the great teacher -  Yeshua

The blue water
Washed my feet
Every day the Baptist saw me there
Dressed in my hair

One day
My body empty
He knew my heart was ready
John baptized me
And now dressed in faith

I AWAIT

Image - Itsi Atkins