Death and Resurrection

Yards and yards
Of heavy black serge
Covered every inch of me
Save face and hands
Not a curve
Not a limb
Not a hint
Of my beautiful
Woman-body
Could be seen.

No wind
Could blow through my hair
Swirl my skirts
Playfully
Around my thighs.
Warm moist earth
Never ticked
My firmly-shod feet.
Thus was I bound
Bride of Christ.
For twenty-five youthful years,
The male magisterium
Male theologians
Male spiritual directors
Properly dressed
My body
And my soul.

Then God the Mother
Released me
I
Sensual woman
Earthy woman
Beautiful woman
Am good.

-Marcelline Niemann

Painting by Elisabeth Slettnes