An Ode to Mary Magdalene

A poem written on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Seven demons did shroud thy soul

And lust for pleasure-false did drive

Thy flesh;

For thou wert adulteress

Most busy in wickedness.

Yet one day caught in act perverse

Thou wast dragged before a mob poised

To stone;

But thy true lover yet unknown

Stopped the rain of justice thrown.

“Is there no one who condemns you?”

Spoke he in lofty tone refined,

“No sir”

She said, “Then nor do I, just

Go and sin no more in lust.”

Then rising she didst go her way

Feeling new and walking at pace

Most slow;

Repentant tears dripping down

That did her old desires drown.

And words of his went ‘round in mind

And the piercing gaze which to her

He gave,

Kept her up at night like fuel

Doused on flame that would not cool.

For yea this inner flame made weep

That maid in whom this fire’s licks

Did blaze;

A flame which her tears could not

Put out but rather made more hot.

The Penitent Mary Magdalene, Giacomo Galli, 1620-1640.

Then once had passed three sleepless nights,

Filled with tossing’s and restless pants

Of love;

That flame now did roar so fierce,

Causing her heart at last to pierce.

So pierced thus she ran madly ‘bout

As a lover that her lover

Doth seek;

Roaming up and down those streets,

Still draped in her bedding sheets.

“Dost thou know where my lover is?”

She desperately asked watchman

Of walls;

But each did say “nay” to her,

But still nothing could deter.

Until at last when morning came

The voice of her lover unknown

Did sound;

And despite the crowded place

Whence voice came, in she went with haste.

And there she held her lovers face,

Blushing like virgin most chaste

That loves;

For though men her flesh had touched

Her heart ‘till now remained untouched.

It was then that without delay

She leapt like a stag to his feet

And wept;

Washing those feet with her tears

And with her lips kissing smears.

Then drying his feet with her hair,

So softly and with devotion

Like care;

From jar of her heart uncoil

Anointed them with sweetest oil.

And though repulsed were all that crowd,

Scandalised by love so profound

And bold;

He defended her with sword

Of word which did her love laud.

Thus breathing with delight that scent,

The Lord and her commenced courting

Right then

When drawing sword: “Much your sins

But much more is your love that wins.”

Henceforth she followed him her knight

So close, ardent to learn and taste

His ways;

Oft’ lost in ecstasy still

Enraptured by face of Will.

And when one time she was rebuked

For being lost in her lovers gaze

In praise;

The Lord himself to Martha said:

“She the better path doth tread.”

And it was either then and there,

Or shortly before or after

Some said:

That they were mystically engaged

With her a virgin remade.

Now the day had come when the two

Were to be bonded in wedlock

Of soul;

The groomsman already had went,

But the best man John was present.

And many bridesmaids were about,

With both their Mother eagerly

At hand;

With groom on cross bleeding much

As bride his feet with lips did touch.

And vows they professed with pangs shared,

Yet before he could give his ring

He died,

Leaving bride to weep at his side,

Joining Mother whom too cried.

Now bitter indeed days went by

Or more like three thousand years of

Loud cries;

For nothing could she console

Who had lost her very soul.

Yet when three days had come she went

To tomb with spices to scent corpse

Of groom;

But upon arrival there

The stone was moved, her groom nowhere.

Most frantically she ran about

Until she saw a gardener

She thought;

“O do you know where” said she

“They’ve taken my lover?” to he.

“Mary” said he with lover’s voice;

“My teacher! My groom!” shouted she

With glee;

As lunging on him she held firm,

Locking mystic wedlock in turn.

Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection,
Ivanov, 1834.

Then saying “that’s enough my dear”

He loosed her grip and gave her a

Sweet kiss;

Then slid on her left finger

That ring which he kept for her.

“Now go and tell the rest I’ve come,

That I’ve risen from the dead as

I said.”

“Yes my dear” she said, “but please,

One more kiss before I leave.”