Waking of the Virgin Ark

A poem written on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; concerning our Lady whom the Fathers of the Church declare as the fulfillment of the Ark of the Old Covenant, and the embodiment of the burning bush which blazed with God’s Presence but was neither consumed nor harmed.

Mary the New Ark of the New Covenant, 'the Theotokas' -'the God Bearer'.

O sacred ark of God,

Wherein laid Jesse’s rod,

The manna new,

The tablets of stone,

But each enfleshed in one:

The Son of God-

Who laid and dwelt

In thy blest womb.

Yea earthen pit nor tomb

Could ever taint thy flesh

Most pure like gold-

Refined by hallowed flame-

Since burning bush thou art,

Who did blaze bright

And still burns fierce

With Spirit’s licks.

For thy face did transfix

Thy Son who went before

To courts above;

And thy Father too

So proud of daughter pure,

Could not let death

Confine thy flesh

Which thou gave Son.

So when that day did come

When thee O Ark breathed last,

That shared yearning

Of Father and Son

Came down on thee like dove,

To hover there

Like over sea,

Then breathed with coo;

Which then glowing light blue

Thy virgin flesh awoke:

All comely fair

As angels all declared:

“Here Queen she comes

As bride ready

To meet her groom”.

As God did thee assume

On cloud of light to heights-

Trumpets sounding,

Father delighting,

All ancient maids sighing;

And groom smiling:

As thou embraced

Thy Son O Ark.

 15th August, 2015.