"john," "a song of mary," and "mary's dream," by Lucille Clifton

Here are three poems by the amazing Lucille Clifton, the first focused on John the Baptizer (you can hear Clifton read it here), and the second and third on Mary, the mother of Jesus — all three gathered together here to help us celebrate and meditate on the season.

“john”

somebody coming in blackness
like a star
and the world be a great bush
on his head
and his eyes be fire
in the city
and his mouth be true as time

he be calling the people brother
even in the prison
even in the jail

i’m just only a baptist preacher
somebody bigger than me coming
in blackness like a star

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“a song of mary”

somewhere it being yesterday.
i a maiden in my mother’s house.
the animals silent outside.
is morning.
princes sitting on thrones in the east
studying the incomprehensible heavens.
joseph carving a table somewhere
in another place.
i watching my mother.
i smiling an ordinary smile.

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“mary's dream”

winged women was saying
"full of grace" and like.
was light beyond sun and words
of a name and a blessing.
winged women to only i.
i joined them, whispering
yes.

+ Lucille Clifton