Generations call me
Mother of Sorrows

My son was betrayed,
Tortured -  murdered
On a criminal’s cross

Generations call me
Blessed among women
Believing God grew
In my womb

Generations come to me
Hail Mary, Holy Mary
Pray for us
Now
And at the hour of my death

Abraham
Ishmael
Isaac
Moses
Mohammed
Solomon
Jesus

Jesus
My son
My bright-eyed boy
Born in Bethlehem
A toddler in Egypt
Growing strong in Nazareth
Sneaking off to stay in Jerusalem
Baptized by his cousin
(who was holy but a little weird)
In the Jordan River
Making friends among the fisherman
Along the Sea of Galilee
Beloved of Mary Magdalene 
She with those far-seeing eyes

My son’s feet knew the dirt
Of only one place on earth

My son’s native love belonged
To only one place on earth

My son’s mustard seed
Was planted
In only one place on earth

My son, my husband, and I
Knew only one place on earth
As home

Truly,
I am 
Mother of Sorrows
Weeping
As battles rage
As slaughter abounds
As injustice breeds injustice 
As horrors breed horrors

In the land we love
My son, my husband and I