The First Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation


As she prayed in the waiting room, she felt
Vertigo wash over her. Her doctor
Entered, beckoned her into his office.

Gently, said they’d confirmed the hCG
Results she’d gotten two days before, then
Asked how she was feeling, what she would do.

Throwing up every morning on her mom’s
Immaculate bathroom floor, what’d he think?
And then, when she was about to tell him -

..........myrrh and starlight, birth
..........apparition, psalm and verse,
..........revealed elation:
..........inside deep a new life stirred,
..........advent, annunciation


Paused. Suddenly, not knowing why, she felt
Luminous, joyful, sorrowful, glorious,
Everything at once; yet certain that, while

Nothing would be the same, she would welcome
All to come, arms open, with virgin grace.


8 comments:

  1. Your work has been a nudge to never forget literature in my daily life and what a great find you have been for me, Sam, thank you for your thank you's today on Twitter, have a beautiful evening. Jewal (Kylo)

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  2. your tanka transcends itself in this piece... almost as a reminder of a beauty/love before-with-and-after breath. plus your imagery as always is very compelling and roots so many human foibles and truths. I admire the beauty in the piece.

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  3. Brilliant, again. You are truly becoming one of my favorite poets. Ever.

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  4. What incredibly kind words, I don't know what to say. All I can do is to keep on writing. Thank you.

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  5. Your poetry is as lush as a rain forest.

    But, oh, I wish you would not use white text on a black background as it makes reading on a computer screen so very difficult and destroys the delicate contract each line has with your readers.

    No More Black rationale here: "Black Trance" http://budurl.com/u8uq

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  6. Thanks! I've concentrated on the poetry, but you're right that making the reading experience easier is also important. I'll try a few things.

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  7. I did some accessibility and usabiliy research, and for reference, here is one of the best discussions I found, with links to other texts - http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum116/48.htm

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  8. Am thankful for publication in the literary journal MiPOesias (Vol. 24, Issue 1).

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For you I wish that these poems were rubies, borne by my own caravan from Xi'an out of Shaanxi, through Persia, along the northern Silk Road.

- S. Peralta, Twelve Stones on a Necklace

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