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Conception (seizure)

by Richard Paez

It was your iris, not your belly
from which the messiah was conceived:
that day I saw Him
reach down from his precipice
dip His large toe in
to your open, sleeping eye

I saw the ripple—
pupil overflowing iris
overflowing white—
the seizure receding,
the communion reverberating.

Tidal waves took every shore (that
day) the world seemed a smaller place.

I watched as you awoke gasping
like a child held under too long
belly swollen from swallowing
(finally breaking) water.

It was your pupil, not your womb
from which the messiah was squeezed:
that one tear torn from you
its eon-fall, stretching--
that one drop
flooded the world.

That day I watched you
vessel of ecstasy
give up the immaculate--
your midwife-angels wept
the manger of the world fell silent
and you Madre,
that day I watched you
learn to swim.

11/08/2004

Author's Note: Destined for the Ojos de la Virgen Madre cycle, if and when it is finished.

Posted on 11/08/2004
Copyright © 2024 Richard Paez

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Kristine Briese on 11/08/04 at 05:29 AM

This is full of startling imagery. Beautiful piece.

Posted by Don Coffman on 11/11/04 at 02:11 AM

I was catching up on some reading around here and started to think I was out of practice on my 'poetry reading. And yes, I definitely find myself at a loss for words. :) This is one of those poems that'll have me coming back a few times to delve further into those pools to see the messiah. A brillant presentation of imagery, indeed.

Posted by Michele Schottelkorb on 01/14/05 at 05:33 PM

damn damn damn... me... this is art. this is real and intense. this scared me and exhaulted me, all at the same time... incredible visuals... blessings...

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