Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Virgin a Day, 2013 - Day 3 Isis and Theotokos


For I am the first and the last
I am the venerated and the despised
I am the prostitute and the saint
I am the wife and the virgin
I am the mother and the daughter
I am the arms of my mother
I am barren and my children are many
I am the married woman and the spinster
I am the woman who gives birth and she who never procreated
I am the consolation for the pain of birth
I am the wife and the husband
And it was my man who created me
I am the mother of my father
I am the sister of my husband
And he is my rejected son
Always respect me
For I am the shameful and the magnificent one.

This passage was first discovered in Nag Hammadi in the third or fourth century BC and claims to be a hymn to the Egyptian goddess Isis.

*********************
Aniscia Mosholder "prayers to the Theotokos, asking for protection"

On one side of Alexander Palace Papa stroked
his coiffed whiskers, pacing back and forth
in his simple study.

Ikons and photographs of family
Watched him all waiting in anticipation
for the news.

On the opposite side of the palace, Mama clenched
her dainty jaws, tears of joy and pain
streamed down her face.

Grigori led the Monks in chant, murmuring
prayers to the Theotokos, asking for protection
and health for the imp-child.

The imperial sheets matched the mauve room.
The resurrection child was born.

The news reached Papa thirty minutes later.
Disappointed in her grandiose arrival,
he delayed their first meeting.

The parade outside the palace
Dispersed, they too disappointed.


Rebecca is hosting another yearly Virgin A Day over at her place - be sure to check out all of the offerings.

11 comments:

  1. Powerful poems, both.
    another perfect share! I can always count on you Kathy♥
    I will be thinking of this post
    as I go to my studio.

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  2. have a nice Tuesday; those are poetic wonders

    much love...

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  3. Both poems are powerful but I am particularly moved by the one that was found in the Nag Hammidi. It speaks so powerfully to the duality of all humans.

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  4. Yes, both very powerful poems as we women should claim for ourselves!

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  5. Beautiful post and poems! Thank you for sharing.

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  6. i too love the powerful duality of the hymn of isis. it gives one pause and humbles to the core.
    thank you for that.

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  7. The images seem to complement each other, don't they?

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  8. These passages are both so profound. The first gave me chills and speaks to me so deeply. As I move into my older years... I am grieving my barrenness... this prayer enfolds me and I no longer feel separate from the women who have given birth... this was a real gift to me Ruby... thank you.

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  9. Powerfully profound words!

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