MOTHERHOOD

MOTHERHOOD

IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
IN THE NAME OF GOD
MOTHER OF US ALL
AMEN

AUGUSTINE SAYS
THE GOD BECAME MAN
THAT HE MIGHT NURSE
AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST

HE WHO WOULD FEED THE WORLD
MUST BE FED
HE
THE WORD MADE FLESH
TOOK FLESH
FROM A WOMAN'S BODY
HE MUST BE FED

HE
WHOM THE UNIVERSE
CANNOT CONTAIN
SHRUNK HIMSELF
TO AN EGG
EMBRYO
FETUS

NINE WARM MONTHS
NINE WARM MONTHS
INDWELLING
WITHIN HIS MOTHER
NINE WARM MONTHS
TILL THRUST LIKE ALL OF US
OUT
INTO THE COLD

HELPLESS

SUBJECT TO HUMAN ACTIVITY
FOR WARMTH
FOR SAFETY
FOR FOOD
FOR LOVE
AND THOUGH THE BOY HAS GROWN
HE WILL NOT THRIVE
UNLESS WE CARE FOR HIM
UNLESS WE CARE FOR OTHERS
WHO LIKE HIM ARE HELPLESS

LIKE A MOTHER
WE ARE THE BABY'S
HANDS AND FEET

LIKE A MOTHER
WE ARE CALLED TO NURSE THE WORLD

LIKE A MOTHER
WE BRING SOFTNESS
TO HARSH PLACES

COME
COME ON CHRISTMAS MORNING
COME
YOU SQUAWKING
NECESSARY CHILD

COME
DIRTY DIAPERS COME
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
AND CONSTANT CARE

COME
ALL THE HELPLESSNESS OF BABIES

REMIND US
THAT WE ARE ALL
THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS

THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED WEAKNESS
AND UNDERSTAND OURS

THE MOTHER SINGS
SHOOLA SHOOLA SHOOLA
WHILE FEEDING HER CHILD
UNDER A STAR
THAT SEEMS TO POINT THE WAY


FRANK A VOLLMER