Guadalupe
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
This triptych poem was written for this week’s Totally Optional Prompt, which is “expectations”. Though I am not Catholic, I have long been fascinated by the story behind the Virgin of Guadalupe (known as Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Virgen de Guadalupe, and where I work, I have seen several depictions of this apparition of Mary in artwork, which inspired me to write this poem. Enjoy.
-Nicole
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| yellow roses | in the desert | December’s surprise |
| I take them | mockeries of | common sense |
| from this hill | a frozen desert dream | is shattered |
| her imprint | burned in | my back |
| in cloth | a sudden, shining miracle | carries her testimony |
| sings her Gift | an embrace | hotter than ten million suns |
| Madre de Dios | Madre de Dios | Madre de Dios |
Written 11/11/08
© 2008 Nicole Nicholson. All Rights Reserved.
6 Comments
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Interesting form which works very well here!
It reads effectively both across and down! Excellent use of words!
Brilliant as ever! I love the way you do this!
Not for the first time, an impressive piece.
Interesting–I was raised Catholic, so it is especially meaningful to me. I am NOT “doctrinaire” any more, but still am fascinated with miracle/sacraments of the RC Church.
Thank you–I just sent you an e-mail regarding your PSH Poet Of The Week!
Thank you, everyone, for your compliments and kind words.
I did not grow up RC, but I have known a lot of people in my life who were RC and I work at a RC seminary full time. I am surrounded, of course, by the artifacts and theology of Catholicsm. I grew up Protestant, Church of God actually, and find the differences and similarities fascinating. I also grew up in Arizona, namely Phoenix and Flagstaff, and knew many Mexican children at the schools I went to and in my neighbor hood. So you could say at different points and in different doses, I have been exposed…and out of all of the stories of faith, I have been the most fascinated with this one, and I find the artistic portrayals of the Virgin of Guadalupe quite beautiful.
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by.
-Nicole