Nine months from today,
“Do not be afraid.”

God in humility,
Mary in humility,
Our response will shame us
If not one of humility.

Nine months from today,
“Do not be afraid.”

Our Salvation awaits our response.
Mary’s “Fiat” covered her whole life,
“Fiat” to conception.
“Fiat” to flight and pilgrimage.
“Fiat” to dying to self,
“Fiat” to the Death of her Son.
The sword pierced her heart as it pierced His.

Nine months from today,
In pristine flesh,
Nestled at the breast
Of one who in humility feared naught
For love of God.

© 2011  Joann Nelander

Stolen name replaced by number,
Savaged soul and broken heart.
Hell, lived on earth,

A people to encumber.

Blind eyes outside in darkness.
Dead souls dismissed the unthinkable.
Stolen name replaced by number.

Raising from the ashes,
Pledging nevermore.
Hell lived on earth,

A people not just numbers.

Yad VaShem, the vault of memory,
Yad VaShem, the ground of tears.
Stolen name replaced by number.

Shoah: families, children.
Here named, remembered, mourned.
Hell, a people encumbered.

Faces pictured in the silence.
Tears cried forevermore.
Stolen name replaced by number.
Hell, a people to encumber.

Joann Nelander