By Vivian Eden
RE: the poem of 19 December 2024, “Our Lady of Palestine” (https://www.culturematters.org.uk/our-lady-of-palestine/)
Dear Gabriel R.,
I rarely reply to people I don’t know
but maybe you’re that Gabriel from long ago
who interrupted me while I was trying to read,
to inform me I was about to conceive
though betrothed to my cousin,* an older guy
I wouldn’t have chosen had they let me try.
We managed. Joe Davidson was patient and kind
and a good carpenter – our furniture was nice
and Jesus was a lovely, interesting child,
clever, intense and sometimes quite wild
(don’t believe preachers who say he was mild),
but I never had to tell him anything twice –
he respected me and wouldn’t have dared interrupt.
He argued with anyone he knew was corrupt.
He was kind to animals and did them no harm
and was blessed with great charisma and charm.
He grew up to be gentle, eloquent and wise
and many people flocked to his side.
He preached love for all who live in the world
though we weren’t sure he really liked girls,
which is fine. I’d have loved grandchildren on my knees
but that, as you know, was never to be.
Of course I wept as he died in great pain –
her dying child drives any mother insane
in Jerusalem, Gaza, Sudan or Ukraine
Belfast, Syria – all without blame.
Nowadays I read much more than I pray
but noblesse oblige, as they say –
I’ve been Our Lady, so your Lady I’ll stay,
and intercede for those who, that October day,
were abducted, tortured, murdered and raped
or later bombed, starved, blocked from escape,
losing homes, minds and maybe faith,
because of fear, arrogance, greed and hate,
exploited by leaders, abandoned to fate,
by men who’d end in Hell if it were a real place
where, post-death, all sinners get thrown,
no matter how powerful, rich or well-known
but as a Jew and a reader, this I can tell:
After this world, there is no Hell.
I wish all women, men and children good cheer –
peace on Earth, health and a Happy New Year.
