Macrina

You are Macrina

Who babysat her siblings and sang them wisdom from her knee

Long before they were the fathers of the church and saints themselves

Of the faith from Galillee


You are Mary 

The lover of a murdered mystic, who made the mustard seeds grow

Your namesake taught a world changer how to love

(You taught me, too, you know) 


You are Karma Pema Wangmo

A lotus woman from the east 

Pure of thought and mind and heart

Well, of mind and heart, at least!


You are Catherine

An Empress, who held all of Russia in her hands

And never let a man tell her how to rule

Whose conquest took control of other lands

And made her king-lover a fool.

You are My Love

With baby hair and tiny hands

A laugh that tinkles and tolls

A viking woman of peasant stock

We always know where you stand


A thousand, thousand names, my love

All of them divine

No matter what they call you, love,

I’m glad to call you mine.