Sanctuary Choir & Celebration Orchestra, with Anna Voth Signing Interpretation of Three Songs, First Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas, Sunday, October 1, 2023 

Her hands speak the name of Jesus,
right hand ascending above her lifted gaze,

long finger of the left touching the base
of the palm, the spike’s scar, healed now

for her, for all women bearing the child
breaking their heart, in love and loss,

her rhythmic swaying side to side,
a birthing ebb and flow, the ocean tides

within, grace and beauty and power
cradling the baby, her arms a bough

that will not break, her right arm rising
out and up, the sweep of her hand,

fingers gathered, across her brow,
pulling God to her upturned face,

a straight line through her body, teenage
Mary, mother of Jesus–the name of

power, healing, life shining through
the shadows, darkest night.

Lithe as a willow, she dances in place,
the rhythms of nature, the pull

within all women: the God-breathed
passion of Eve. Sarah, daring birth,

old and grateful. Miriam braving
the shallows of the Nile,

protecting her baby brother.
Ruth’s beauty of devotion,

her lineage of love and risk.
Hannah pledging her first-born son

to God. Queen Esther’s courage.
And all those Marys:

Mother of Jesus. Mary of Bethany
anointing her savior’s feet. Mary

of Magdala weeping at the tomb of Jesus
until he calls her name. And the woman

encircled by the press of men,
their hard morality, then rescued

by Jesus. Oh God, my God,
I need you now!

It is always, Jesus knew, the women
who reach out in quietness,

their arms, hands, and fingers
gathering us in.