HAVE CRIED 1963

AN IRISH GIRL IN CHURCH STUDIES THE CRUCIFIED AND WONDERS WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE DONE HAD SHE BEEN AT THE CRUCIFIXION

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.