By ambition of nature and persistence of life

the Sea of Galilee flourishes despite climatic strife

So do the women who within church walls grow

between threats of reproach and fragile male egos

where none are slandered more than the Magdalene

– “The Whore”

He came not to destroy but to fulfill

not good girls, meek and mild,

but sinners, sweet and wild

Who else but a rebel, with no father or brother

could freely travel the land in support of another?

The Watchtower of the Messiah, the Bride of Christ

followed all His days and stayed that fateful night

to prepare the body for the time He should again rise

and go tell the twelve who couldn’t bother to wait by

That’s woman’s work – to stand by in tough times

From her pocket’s gold, Christ’s story was told

and seven devils cast out of her generous soul

On the banks of the River Jordan, where the Mighty One came

poor Mary gave her constant labor and lost her good name

to men who recounted her story for fame

Sixth Century eyes couldn’t fathom why

a woman, not a wife, would stand by His side

Without a ring upon her hand

she was deemed a Whore in a Holy Land

Such is the fate of an independent woman whose fame

is left in the hands of men to relay

Men of peace? Yes, but men all the same