magdalen’s garden

magdalen’s garden

he: She is come to me only, and I enter her coming

She is risen softly and I cover her rising

Like early mist from the river, yet I cover her rising

Her small joy yearning to be taken

In holy morning

my power fills her silence

And her mind is awoken.

in holy morning

my power fills her waiting

and her mind is awoken

And I enter her word… and I enter her waiting

And her word,

full small with smallness

is spoken through me

she: I am come to thee only.

I am come, offering to you this grail of Magdalene

This small cup, full small with smallness

This small gift of my small soul.

From your side I came

into the mild dewed pastures of the night

wherein,

I did delight to remain still

amidst the dance of the rainbow stars of all your names,

until god’s smallest story

called again from Eden,

for sweet sight of thee…

and in surprise… I saw that she who called,

was me.

Twice come in Eden

And returned to thee… the chalice given to my keeping…

this grail of Magdalen, full with stillness.

he: Beloved, from the fountain of my side,

there amidst the living jewels of names come small

of many, and of all our company attending…

did you abide, waiting for me…

she: See the gift I bring. Hidden these long weeping years of women.

I am come to thee, and my heart must sing the small song.

Now, golden and joyful, with all my sisters:

he: See the cup that she brings. So small…

To serve the many… Her smallness overflowing,

from my side she came, and by my side she shall remain,

She lifts the land with small hands and her ‘word’ is beautiful.

Filling her cup with her small word,

She is come to me only and I enter her coming…

female chorus: You have entered by a secret gate, beloved,

this garden of Magdalen…

Flowers rain upon Lebanon

She has bathed in Nile waters

All the many attend with her,

led forth by the light of the unborn star…

“They threw me at you, Magdalen

And I was powerless to help,

And as you went away,

they built of me a temple, of one name only…

but my names are many…

And they built of me a city

and named her Magdalen

and waited for your return.

she: But the women of the valley sing

‘she will not return again’

And the women of the valleys,

all with the name of Magadalen, sing:

“Here we women poets stand

and with our poet womens’ hands,

we seed, and live, and love this land.

And name,

our daughters with new names

to understand the love

that rains

from the first name of grace, of Magdalen.

together: You have entered by a small gate, beloved,

this garden of magdalen.

she: Flowers rain upon Lebanon

All the many attend with her.

She has bathed in Nile waters,

led forth by the light of the unborn star.

By desert wells,

the village women laugh and chatter

and draw back in silence from strangers

veiling their faces

and hiding her in their midst.

They throw her soft love to each other

this soft catch of her,

dancing,

all the many attend with her

lifting the land with small hands

singing with joy

“we hasten to thee, beloved”

he: As a soft breeze

that no leaf disturbs,

a new stranger approaches

she: He hears

the soft call of their ankle bells,

their small whispers of endearment

amidst wild iris

coming from the wheaten fields.

Returning home to their village

the women delight to see him

recognising their friend…

she: “bring wine from the store

bring fruit and bread for our guest…”

But first she brings an earthen bowl

filled with clear water from the well

In the dusk there is the quiet light of candles,

and of stars and of his eyes.

But she cannot look

and bows her head

washing softly away

the dust of his long journey.

sharing silently

to blend with oils of “wild” rose

anointing his feet

with the tears of her joy

he: she is silent

her shyness fills the darkness

warming the desert night

she: and waking the gazelles from stillness

to bow low with all heaven’s small and perfect stars

before her beloved

Her love fills the empty night

that all the night may dance with smallest love

she: this smallest love song

for her love,

and sing each one small one

“beloved

you have filled me with desire

that I may call to thee,

I desire to be found,

that thou may find me…”

together: “Do you bow before her

see how she reaches

see how beautiful she really truly is…

see how she bows before her own beloved

as humble as

each one small one among the many

of our earth who live…

she: River of smallness, river that flows to no great sea

where even thought of sea is small. Her love…

is the softest call to enter Magdalen’s garden

he: By the fires, lutes and harps come golden fair, come dancing fair,

The young men play stringed instruments…

together: Their women dancing before them…

Unbound, their hair falling freely

and the sway of their bodies, and

their tenderness filling the night…

whispering seductively,

she: “come share with me my love into the desert…

let no-one disturb us

Let our bodies become close as one

Let our secrets become close as one

Let flowers be born in the desert, my love.”

Together: All the many attend with her

Flowers rain upon Lebanon

Her soft surrender completing the night,

Beloved is she of her lord.

Drinking their wine, honouring their guest,

the old men become rosy cheeked,

“the wedding arrangements are made

she shall attend to thee in spring”

she: From the source she has come,

all the many attending with her,

led forth by the light of the unborn star…

together: To the left of her, the turning wheel

and to the right of her the sacred river.

Beside the saqiya, the village women bare their hearts,

feeding their babies, and plaiting their hair in morning mists.

While their men push from the shore

on flat papyrus boats,

and the kingfishers fly low

and the curlews call into goldenness…

And the babies drink milk and goldenness

from the full bare breasts of their mothers…

And their mothers call into goldenness…

She: “A silent fisherman has cast his net

upon the waters… And is the beloved

of the soul of the earth.”

female chorus: There is a name in the grail

and her closeness has found it…

amidst the forest of cedar

the daughters of Lebanon

sing of her mercy…

there is a name in the grail

for whom does it serve,

and the shyest breath of gaia’s word

breathes

the waiting world

together: all the many attend with her

a small song has filled the desert

the smallest wind leads their way

before them an oasis welcomes

a palace adorned with gardens

of rose and jasmine

and beautiful reason

sharing the rainbow dances of the fountain’s play,

she: and her small soul resting

still and unspoken,

in the heart of god’s flying waters…

he: By the gates her teacher is waiting,

“I am callen to thee, to the small drop of thee,

to the smallest darkness of thee

full with smallness

in the heart of gods flying…”

together: With small steps she attends her teacher,

Through the gates he leads her,

Her head is bowed as he removes her veil

The fleeting moment, and he passes before her…

In the deep blue of her eyes, the living river named…

he: “She is the calling of my heart, and she is the answer.”

she: From her apartments, the windows open

to desert and blue sky

and the gardens of tranquillity…

together: Below her servants unpack

singing and chattering

in high spirits like market place people…

‘How long shall we stay here?’

‘Her father has commanded…’

‘He is to teach her the ways of science’

‘she is the betrothed of the beloved…’

‘He is to teach her the beautiful ways…’

‘she is betrothed to the beloved’

‘He is a good teacher, a great magician’

‘an astronomer, a mathematician…’

‘he is a lamb of the desert’

‘he is a lion of the desert’

‘she is our lady and betrothed to our beloved’

she: She is awoken, and she is come

She is timid with the dawn,

She is timid with the doe,

walking with small steps

leaving her apartments, and her attendants sleeping,

entering the garden

in answer to the calling

he: of one bird singing

of one bird singing

together: and the secret fullness of his song

she: But the Lord is in the garden, and she is not alone

in soft surprise she meets him…

calm is his demeanour

His prayers entrust before her

and blueness fills the heavens

as he whispers, and he beckons

he: “Lady, you are come…”

together: Soft now, within the morning,

and all the small birds singing

and the dancing rainbow garden

and the sharing of the one… shy

breath

Her attendants whisper quietly

“He is a great astronomer,

famous for philosophy…

but she sits with him so long…

but she sits with him so long…”

Soft now the rainbow garden

and the stillness in the dancing

and the sharing of one moment and of one witness

come in the long, long time of she…

she: Leaving her attendants, coming to him alone,

she meets him by the fountain.

Sitting quietly together,

teacher and student as one

they contemplate the flying water…

he: “But now” he said. “The seed of time is sown”

The smallest drop

unheld by the ocean

shall roam free, come into the heart

of god’s lonely flying…

and melt into his brow, so stern

and he shall, with such a beautiful reason

smile into our earth with life…

and she shall be beloved, and she shall be many,

and she shall be his ‘only’ wife,

in the heart of his flying.

Beloved,

Returned are all ten thousand jewels of names bestowed

and in this sweet surrender of your fame

rest now within the small of these

ten thousand jewels of names to know

of time and soul…

of breath of she our soul of earth…

Just this small step,

to step from the womb of time…

into her garden…

the seed of time is sown

Attending and loyal to his breath, shall you,

pure mathematics breath… and sympathy…

small, perfect, quiet constellation

sharing with each small and perfect star,

no need to be adorned.

Lady, awaken from your innocent dreams,

lady come into this garden,

this sweet geometry of ‘moment’.

Your exquisite entrance, to share

uncalculated pure feeling,

of the small fine line of her joy…

this smallest dynamic, dancing

a universe, so fair, so beautiful

And named as ‘time’

with the smallest reason to believe in life,

with no distance in between love’s first idea

and all our universe…

a rare quiet love has breathed upon this earth,

and we, who breathe and love and live,

bow low with love…

‘see how she reaches

see how beautiful she really is

see how she bows before her own beloved,

as humble as

each one small one

among the many here who live…’

lady,

this geometry of time and of these small and perfect even stars of night,

shall share exquisitely with thee,

their small and perfect even secrets of the light

of reasons, born of tenderness…

the sources shall sing with sweet delight

of mystery…

and you shall not thirst, nor hunger for their ‘word’,

nor shall you, with mathematics library, prepare…

but in this quietest garden of the night

the breath of pure mathematics shall, in soft surprise,

reveal and share her love with thee…

And science shall be beautiful

and in the softest wilderness of her most tender care,

shall nature… answering her own,

show thee

your smallest soul so fair,

this word of thee…

My lady, here, amidst wild jasmine attending,

in this smallest garden of the night,

the soft surprise of your innocence and delight

is still lingering…

and there within, such small secret to unfold,

as answer to your whisper…

she: “how did the stars begin…?”

together: “With sweet coming, lady,”

each one small one together…

And the mathematics pure, and of so small a finest time,

full small with all the smallest wilderness

of feminine time,

this joy of a lady…

so sweetly wayward and all of her own accord.

see how she shines, with pure feeling,

as through the garden she runs,

“we hasten to thee, beloved…”

“My lady, you are come,

here into the garden of my soul”

he: Upon a holy altar, two stars have become one,

the shyest breath of trees so purely sings

this quiet night, so still and calm,

with perfect ring around the moon,

together : a rainbow aura of no colour

And love within.

she: So soft surrendered…

he: your rainbow jewels,

the smallest moments of the river as she flows for free,

your dress of stars…

yet still your loyalty shall be, for she…

for one small star

your soul of earth…

Lady, come dance with me into my stars

Come dance your Eden, your garden of Magdalen,

your river that flows to no great sea

for I am no more the ocean…

and no longer do I own the stars

she: He is her teacher and she is his student

Together,

They share, dancing alone,

the unique attraction,

the smallest seeing,

the simplest desire, that makes no intention,

that causes no distance,

of the smallest turn, returning home…

They sing the smallest love song

to fill each other’s soul,

and their song rests upon

the wings of all small birds,

covers the earth, the seas and the skies

with small love.

Chrysalis flight, soft moving, fragile verb of day and night

Softest impression, shyest light

of conscious life…

as newborn word, a smallest wind

a shyest breath of tree, of flower, and of bird

of all the names, of she our earth

come dancing passion rare, of sweetest time,

too rare,

too beautiful for words…

together: Compassion sweeps soft waiting earth,

see how she runs through the garden

the soft rush of her love,

in the long long time of she…

With gentlest eyes he sees her

the delta valley singing of love,

her living word, her shyest love song…

she dwells forever in the heart of the beloved.

“You are the fullness of all time,

resting immeasurably

upon the unfocussed first time, the naming grace

of gaia’s soft snow,

her smallest breath of love.”

Her tenderness fills all being

her moving power

This smallest gift of the turn of the company,

this gift of each one of thee, again to thee…

as trust gathers thee to thee…

no form

no touch

no taste

no sound

she: she is unknowing… she is the garden bearing all fruits

“your soul” she whispers “is one with my soul,

my soul seeks only the smallest door to thee.”

he: “She dwells forever in my soul.”

Amidst the eucalyptus she wanders,

Her maidservants calling to her, but she does not answer.

she: “Lady, you have left your shoes by the riverside

withdrawing here, barefoot beneath the tree,

Let us dress you in your silks of sky blue

and your jewels of amethyst and sapphires…

The caravan is ready to leave,

lady, cannot you hear…

the musicians are playing wedding tunes

and your beloved is waiting.”

He: Through the grove, her teacher comes to her

“Come lady, step soft to your future…”

And again

“Come closer, closer still,

a stray curl has fallen…

Why do you stay here

You, who are a queen of realms, far reaching,

And all this time,

Your sacred woman’s sword, resting,

golden with silence,

yearning to be held,

and to hear the song of its Queen.

together: Through the desert the caravan journeys

coming to rest in dusk,

And there by fires, the musicians play,

as the wine flows freely,

served by attendants, come golden fair, come dancing fair,

to their lovers.

But in her tent alone, their lady is silent.

Hearing only the call of the desert lion in the darkness,

filling the waiting night.

No more can she remember, the face of her betrothed

Only,

the face of her teacher.

His kind wise eyes

and his poetry beneath her window

to share the smallest gift of stars…

he: Lady, this rainbow star, our earth.”

Together: And in Eden,

the hood of the falcon is fallen away.

And beside her, an eagle

rising together to the sky

they fly through time…

And the wings of the falcon are genesis

and her soul is the feminine ‘word’

she: Quietness rests upon the earth

and waiting Eden feels the small sweep of her own soul’s longing…

together: And waiting Adam,

to catch with tenderness, the soul of feminine time,

into his soul.

as she comes, soft wilderness, sweetly wayward and all of her own accord,

falling softly

from his side…

And the soft fullness of Eden.

she: side by side, each small name…

Each small one among the many

shy poet weavers of the nature

of the small fine line of time

sharing to form the living ‘word’

the seed of time is sown…

and tenderness is this: surrender of our company,

we hasten to thee, beloved…

he: How long have I searched for you

Your face always hidden…

Your dwelling place, forever unknown to me…

These long, lonely years, my soul

a silent traveller

amidst the endless stars of words

For I am lonely

in this loneliness of one…

and seek other

she,

the soul of stars.

she: Now night descended

But unlike any other…

And the night was endless…

And their whispers came, growing louder,

until, weeping and wailing, the attendants cried:

together: “Where are the stars?

Lost, lost are we, and our caravanserai,

a fragile boat upon a great, dark sea.

With no guide to show the way,

Endless this night. Empty this night.

And where is he – your betrothed,

When shall come the dawn of day?”

With heads bent low, trembling and fearful

They came to her:

“Lady, lady, pray you take up your sacred sword

Resting there, untouched,

and dance thee rainbows, and again,

all small sweet stars into the heavens

And with all your queenly power

defeat this night, to bring again the night to play”

But she held still. Held soft within the night

And whispered gently,

she: “Quiet is this night. The secret heart of the flower has opened.

Blessed and beloved this darkness.

Untouched, my sword shall ever remain…

For I would not be the queen to cut this night –

but her servant only, to bow humbly before

the small dark soul of she, we name

as our beloved earth.

Be not afraid but trust now, only to only

Be not afraid, my company but trust now to this pure love…

an unborn star is risen this night

to guide our way…

An unborn star has risen in the sky,

it cannot be touched

it cannot be tasted

it cannot be smelt

it canot be heard

it is an unborn star

and has risen to my secret heart

and is the beloved of the soul of the earth…

together: And as she spoke,

new dawn was coming,

sweet reverence for all the names of earth…

And from the shores, where he is waiting…

all small birds flew

to share his love song to she who trusted…

his betrothed approaching…

Clothed in blue, adorned in jewels of amethyst and sapphire.

All the many attending with her…

led forth by the light of the unborn star.

And she knew he was her Lord.

Yet still…

the small breeze amidst the eucalyptus…

and her teacher there…

and the fountain spray…

as for a peasant girl as for a queen

he: Left open now, in Magdalen’s garden,

a secret gate,

wherein wild rose has entered,

and soft white jasmine

sweetly wayward and all of her own accord.

she: Sweetness fills the valleys

And the sweet flight of a falcon

to bring her word,

as answer to this call from him

her lord.

together: and the goldenness of the lioness running…

The honey dew call of the desert lion to his mate

to fill the waiting night.

and her answer, golden in the dawn,

she: “I am come to you.”

together: Trusting to be held,

all earth is sweet with her desire…

A great whale has dived deep,

in search of the black pearl,

into the heart of the ocean

Bringing to the surface

the shyest breath of rainbow plankton and coral reef

and the love within the quietness.

And now see how he leaps –

and in this one great leap

the male soul sings his love song:

he: “Trust to be held my beloved

I feel my spirit open

I am a universe, an ocean

of all small and perfect even stars of love.

Come, smallest drop, unheld by the ocean

The seed of time is sown.”

she: She is quiet with desire

trusting to be held,

her smallest reason to believe in life,

woven desirable from her Lord’s desire

together: as answer to his calling.

dwelling within his flying water…

in the heart of his flying.

Smallness is behind her

Smallness is before her

She is golden

golden with tenderness,

reaching to the right and to the left

smallness above her and below.

she: She is beauteous, beloved of her Lord.

She shines light within the light

And when she sings,

her songs are songs of dancing love and light.

he: Beloved,

For the first time, you whisper:

“I desire to be found.”

You tremble for me,

and your yearning fills me,

delights me,

you trust me only…

for I am known to thee,

from the beginning.

With the smallest turn, you turn to me now,

smallest drop of the ocean

returning home,

and the gift of your smallest song

too beautiful to stay separate from.

together: Only to only,

the small wind, and then further…

he: It is the wedding morning…

she: She hears his steps approaching…

together: and yet still,

the sweet single call of the dove and the dawning…

there in the gardens of fountains and learning…

he: Her attendants are speaking,

she: “lady, we must lead you to your betrothed”

together: She bows her head, following quietly

he: Sea breeze resting, there upon the ancient river…

the small soft throw of the ocean,

‘welcome…’

lifted by rainbows,

the gentle flows of her veil…

together: while the attendants are singing:

“two hearts are made one.”

she: All the many attending,

his voice is the sun…

he: “lady lift your eyes to me,

Your teacher has come, to be your husband.”

she: Recognising her friend…

Hearing his voice, lifting her eyes to his face

she is golden, rising from beloved darkness.

she is the goldenness of spring rising

she is the joy of spring rising.

“Invisible within the spray

soft finger of the ocean,

to point the way…

he: small pool

smallest drop unheld by the ocean

come now,

be gathered

into the ocean’s play…

to the left of me,

her small pool.

Her small pool has filled me

Filled my difference

Her small pool, full with smallness

Her smallest stillness,

to the left of me,

in the heart of god’s flying water

filling my deepness…”

In answer to the calling

the many have come…

The ocean shore is full with their waiting…

and no heart there, so close

shall deny his love...

but each small one shall offer joy

and shall not hide their shyest face…

but share with joy his happiness of knowing her.

she: “I am come small to thee,

Beloved, since time began my smallness has attended thee…

since time began,

my small love song, filling time with small love

for thee only.

Only to only

you offer me a gift, my love

this smallest gift I return to thee…

my smallness, full with smallness

so tenderly

and each one beside me…

surrender of our company…

my smallness, full with smallness

loves thee only,

‘lives thee only’.

he: I enter her, and she murmers…

Oh the sweetness of her small murmer of delight

as I enter…

the tip of her tongue, the exquisite drop,

her mouth open gently, she offers me…

You, who are her sweet disguise –

Come, all endless stars of words,

“gathering you to me, I am found beloved.”

How long have I been lost

amidst the dancing shyness of these stars,

so close and yet so far

Now, shall I weave my love song to your stars.

My silent song

shall fill the cadence of your names come small,

shall share male intimate into the breath of veils,

and as each veil shall softly fall –

shall hold thee so close to me

only to only

and hear your smallest call of beauty and of pleasure…

to be found,

soft beauty to our world…

This long, long age within the womb of time

a cone of stars,

searching for her face…

See now, how she comes

Lifting the seed of time in her woman’s hand,

and the soft grace throw of her love,

the seed of time is sown…

she: Shy poet weaver of a silent thread

unfolding small fine line

This texture of his robe

the grace of outline without force

no holding to his own…

together: but waiting softly

for her song

to share into his form…

she: “I call thee again to Eden, my beloved

For never have I left,

remaining here,

still and attendant with beloved earth’s purpose.

From the furthest star, you turn to meet me

From the furthest shore you look homeward.

he: I have gathered thee to me,

you who were hidden… I have found you,

the one, I have forever been seeking…

Into my tent you are come

he: I shall take you under my blanket…

kissing your deep blue eyes

bringing you closer to me, and closer still…

kissing the fullness of you, the skies of you,

your oceans and your valleys

feeling the hastening

the quickening of you,

the small exquisite rushing

of your softest wilderness of love,

this sweet rush of your longing…

belonging only to me

“A quiet wind is risen

amidst the stillness of Sinai…

together: The ancient small wind,

my desire for her…”

she: “Thus,

Led forth by the light of an unborn star…

My Love, how shall I know thee?”

he: “I am come to thee,

and there can be no other.

Still here,

this ancient, small wind

that stirs to speak of thee…”

Within a universe of stars

a sacred breath is born

to bring me to thee…

And in this smallest garden of the night

into a small and ancient darkness

I shall take you,

wherein the shyest breath of quietest light

shall share her soul

and fill us lovers with her tenderest flight

of sweet surrender into our world.

Shall speak from our own hearts

the holy day and holy night

of a word of earth

so beautiful…

and harvest light so bountiful…

together: “come forth my beloved, show now your sweetest face,

into all heavens small and perfect stars of night,

and with the smallest love and perfect grace

my trusting soul delight, with your mysterious love.”

he: Lady, this season passing is exquisite time

and we, the waiting company

silent before the singer,

learn from each other our purpose…

And in the sweetest surrender of our fame

shall our beloved earth name us together...

And the smallest passion of our love

shall be trusted, shall be known…

she: Just let the gentle lilac blow

her own sweet reason to the wind

and trust to a love that only you may know

for the smallest change of changing everything

Is this compassion,

then come soft passion fill me with your tenderest love,

dance as tenderly with me,

as all below, and in between and all above.

such tenderness for change…

he: For thee shall I care,

for your beloved whales

and the many of your oceans…

For thee shall I work,

for your forests immeasurable

Your kind beloved trees…

For your garden of earth

shall I be loyal,

and for your many beloved…

shall I be a man side by side with my nature

to stand plain and true,

beside the many… and speak for life…

The gate is open, again have I entered Eden.

See there, by the fountains, Magdalen is waiting…

The delta valleys are full with her softness

Her breath fills the fruits

and dances golden with the sun.

The falcon flies free

Do you hear her song,

she: “come dance with me, again in Eden…”

he: New Eden has come

resting upon her wing,

to bring Eden anew

Dearest,

come enter here, into my listening

into my ear.

enter into my waiting

and sweetly name each one small one among the many of our earth

intimate earth, my love

that I may know thee intimate

listening tenderly for each particular.

as life herself shall whisper

her smallest love song

to fill the waiting world…

he: Her smallest wilderness fills me

Soft, sweet comingness to meet me…

and I am bathed in her surrender,

come small into the waiting love song nature

of her love,

and in this first most small and perfect meeting

all meetings of before and ever after

are come most small and perfect…

The softest rain is falling…

By the small flying waters,

by the waters he is waiting,

touching stars with her eyes she sings the spring

of his holy names,

of each small thing beloved to him

she: now resting on the wings of all small birds

to fly throughout sweet earth

sharing with land, with seas, with skies

singing so quiet the love within,

of all who love…

her love for him…

he: Lady, this time of our earth

is exquisite time…

And we, the waiting company

silent before the singer…

learn from each other our purpose.

Beloved, come take my hand…

In this garden, you sing your softest love song

to bring me only, to thee only.

You sing, “Forever have I loved thee…

The light of your love shines full with the smallness

open are all your seasons to this shy wanderer,

a humble singer of your love songs.

A shy poet weaver, of beautiful difference,

of the dance of small fine lines

and boundaries,

and of each small name that rests beloved,

to sing its own sweet name of love in thee…

owned by no other,

who shall its owner be?

she: Your gift of love,

of each small one among this company…

of each small part…

within unfolding work of thee,

moves us, each one, to yearn to gift to thee

in this return,

our own small names of love, of we,

of this small turning,

smallest dancing love of thee,

returning home,

surrender of our company.

together: Her word is come… from the desert and the valleys,

From the rivers and the mountains,

from the oceans and her beloved forests,

she: resting upon the shyest breath of the trees

her word is come…

he: And in her seas

the great whale swim unharmed…

she: Her word is come,

a smallest rainbow seal has come to the shore,

small and fragile, she sings her love song into the waiting world,

“I believe in you…”

he: “I believe in you…”

together: In the heart of god’s flying…

she: The women are gentle and have care

together: walking with small steps upon the earth…

coming together in the dusk

tired from their work in the fields

walking the way of the quietest light

that forms the holy day and holy night…

she: The women are gentle…

together: coming together, resting to each other for support

Arms entwined, allowing their hair to fall free

Free falling and full soft, with beautiful reason…

returning from the fields in dusk,

in Magdalen’s garden,

the women care…

he: and know their friend,

she: recognising the stranger as he attends,

together: singing they all, as answer

to soft desire’s most tender call,

she: “we hasten to thee, beloved.”