And The Lilies Weep In the Fields Aggrieved For Wounded Beauty

every day that you went out

from the home you never had

they were always there before you:

the Pharisees, the Saducees

or it could have been anyone-

with their trick questions

with their trick questions

you turned inside out

till you could see clear through

them in the densest fog.

sometimes it seemed they were  the fog

rolling down from Jerusalem

or it could have been, from anywhere

while the file on you grew thicker...

golden day by day you were still here with us-

and in every capital

of what is called the world

are those who will not let you forget 

you were not welcome.

children may come with wreaths of flowers

and flowers themselves field flowers weep

and the fog itself is grieved and cannot cover cannot cover

our shame

mary angela dougls 11 november 2013