To Hold
Rent from DeepDyve- To Hold
To Hold
At the museum, I countthe number of times the Virgin Mary
went to heaven. In almost all,her palms are straight and
tightly clasped as sheascends. Later versions give
more warmth to her serenity—facerounder but still placid as
a drying lake. Only one imageis dedicated to her birth. I stand
before it, my fingers unsure
what to do in a roomof so much not to touch.
Little Mary lays in a nursemaid's arms. The most I can see
is the crest of her head,
even then, awaitingits halo. Her mother [End Page 117]
lies exhausted on the bed,her hands more
limp and downcast than her
eyes as if she was tired, already,from knowing what she bore
was not hers at all. [End Page 118]
Meriwether Clarke is a poet, essayist, and educator living in Los Angeles. Recent work can be seen in the Michigan Quarterly Review, Gigantic Sequins, the Journal, Memorious, the Superstition Review, and elsewhere. Find her on Twitter @MeriwetherC.
