The 22nd of July is Mary Magdalene’s day, and continuing my sequence of sonnets written in response to the church year I post this for her. As usual you can hear the poem by clicking on its title or on the ‘play’ button.
This sonnet is drawn from my collection Sounding the Seasons, published by Canterbury Press here in England. The book is now back in stock on both Amazon UK and USA . The book is now also out on Kindle. Please feel free to make use of these sonnets in church services and to copy and share them. If you can mention the book from which they are taken that would be great.
Men called you light so as to load you down,
And burden you with their own weight of sin,
A woman forced to cover and contain
Those seven devils sent by Everyman.
But one man set you free and took your part
One man knew and loved you to the core
The broken alabaster of your heart
Revealed to Him alone a hidden door,
Into a garden where the fountain sealed,
Could flow at last for him in healing tears,
Till, in another garden, he revealed
The perfect Love that cast out all your fears,
And quickened you with love’s own sway and swing,
As light and lovely as the news you bring.
Malcolm Guite 
Somehow I particularly love this one.
Mary.
Dear Malcolm, As always , exquisite , and so moving. Thank you. Laus Deo. Clare
Sent from the Tardis
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I love this.
Malcolm, you’ve moved me to bring my little rhyme out of storage:
FEAST OF ST MARY MAGDALENE
Mary dear,
You got there first.
The guys all fled;
They feared the worst.
You broke the news,
Full of surprise,
Dampened when
They rolled their eyes.
No fear that
It was for naught:
Your name’s praised
Where e’re the story’s taught.
Thanks
Beautiful!
Til in another garden he revealed
The perfect love that casts out fear…
Beautiful words and rhyme. Thank you.
Thanks!
What news Mary was given: at one point she was custodian of the greatest knowledge known to man.
Most beautiful!
Thanks
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