Martha stands
in the church
by the font
where babies
are baptised
she looks up
at the roof
then slowly
moves her head
downward to
the Crucified
old plaster
wooden cross
painted in
wound in side
plaster nails
in curled hands
and crossed feet
and painted
plaster piece
as the cloth
around His
centrepiece
(private parts
Mary said
not that He
used it mind)
Martha sighs
walks nearer
stands beneath
and looks up
and wonders
what she'd do
had she been
at the foot
of the cross
at the time
(Mary said
do feck all
like the rest
and just stare
and pretend
you weren't there)
Martha puts
her hand up
her fingers
touching Him
on His feet
(cold plaster)
then kissing
her fingers
(other hand)
places them
on His shins
and rubs them
maybe I'd
have done that
to the Christ
if those fecks
the Romans
had let me
she mutters
very soft
to the high
Crucified
His hands out
at each side
or would she
she wonders
just have cried.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem