The Other Mary

 The one who wipes Christ's feet
 with her hair (the body meant nothing
 to her). The one who covers Christ's chest

 in cinnamon and potato rinds and apple cores
 (anything she could get her hands on).
 She is the one Christ holds on his tongue longer

 than any of the disciples (though they stomp
 in the dirt and pull at their ears).
 This Mary waited outside the cave

 for Christ to rise, more patient
 than a father. She made up songs
 and played marbles with the angels

 kneeling in the dirt for days.
 And when Christ finally shook off his bones
 and sins, he wouldn't even brush the hair

 from her eyes. Not this Mary, she was 'unclean.'
 You'll remember she carried seven demons
 in her womb until Christ put his fingers inside her

 and scraped her clean. This Mary
 is the barren one, not the virgin.
 The one who takes men inside herself,

 rocking them gently to a dark place
 only a believer could understand.
 Not the one you shout for

 when you wake shivering
 surrounded by strangers,
 calling, Mother! Mother!

 Jamie Wasserman


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