The poem
Do not cry for me, Mother, seeing me in the grave.
I This greatest hour was hallowed and thandered By angel's choirs; fire melted sky. He asked his Father:"Why am I abandoned...?" And told his Mother: "Mother, do not cry..."
II Magdalena struggled, cried and moaned. Peter sank into the stone trance... Only there, where Mother stood alone, None has dared cast a single glance.
I wish church leaders would use this poem more often, especially during the Easter Week. The language is stark; the people have space; the questions and commands used have such quality that one can really feel the drama of that moment. The placement of Mary as the "lone figure where Mother stood alone,/None has dared cast a single glance" has an almost haiku feeling to it--that moment makes one pause, to…
Read the whole commentI wish church leaders would use this poem more often, especially during the Easter Week. The language is stark; the people have space; the questions and commands used have such quality that one can really feel the drama of that moment. The placement of Mary as the "lone figure where Mother stood alone,/None has dared cast a single glance" has an almost haiku feeling to it--that moment makes one pause, to reflect...as the lone figure gives space/time to the event. She is there, and no one can give her the much needed comfort, even her son's command, "Mother, do not cry..." offers no immediate relief, and is a command she can not perform. The single sentence that begins the poem makes me think of the Roman's inscription that was nailed to the cross. Akhmatova uses the sentence as a way (in my opinion)of drawing attention to the utterance first, then, allows the eyes of the reader to go down--much like looking at a cross. The drama unfolds, and what pain is focused on most? There is horror, questions, a stony trance, the lone figure...and the presence of Heaven (angels, clouds, "Father").
This poem captures the essence of that event.