Annunciation: a meditation poem

 Annunciation 

Here now,

across the world 

labourers look up 

in longing 

as the 

evening breeze 

of Eden, 

long lost,

is felt stirring 

down the 

centuries once more,

touching faces dusty 

from tired toil.

Divine in-breathing 

gathers itself in 

grace,

and prepares for pouring 

into vessel

where clay 

will shape divinity

and give blood 

and body to Being.

Now, the cosmos pauses, 

in her 

long dance and 

stars still 

over that house 

where 

nature touches the 

sadness of 

its lost and longed for 

divine intimacy 

in she who beckons 

unique 

blessing in her total 

simplicity.

Unknown, and 

unknowing 

but through faith,

she gives Angel assent 

smiling at 

a celestial face 

that reverses 

old order 

in its new 

reverence,

as flaming sword 

is sheathed 

and ancient gates 

are heard 

to creak 

between the worlds,

long ready to burst 

their chains

asunder.

The Father looks!

The Son leaps!

The Spirit loves!

Over, 

Within, 

Through,

her;

who is this 

perfect point of 

peace;

who is this 

girl;

who is the 

threefold woman,

Maiden, Mother, 

Spouse of Wisdom,

who

becomes now 

the way, 

the warrior, 

the Word's Womb!

She who births our 

blessing and beginning 

both,

and in whose eyes

the Eden light

rekindled,

shines

at last,

again.

(The painting is one of my favourite modern depictions of this sacred moment and is by Henry Osawa Tanner)