117 - Mary in the Abbey Garden

Mary in the Abbey Garden
By Frederick Zydek

The Queen of heaven,
child slung on her right hip,
contemplates the little pond-
the reflections waiting there.

The child is restless.
He wants to try out his legs-
to stand like a rock
on the round and willing planet.

But the lady keeps him balanced
between her heart
and the stones they have piled
like altars in the garden.

Today she has dressed him
in the garments of a king.
When he is older
she will tell how at his first steps

it was the poverty of stones
that first adored him-
and the poverty of stone
that gave Him the crown.

They are standing by the pond now.
The child is giggling,
digging in with his toes.
The lady is lost in prayer.

Fredrick Zydek, who runs a corn farm in Nebraska, has published poetry and articles in Catholic World, Christianity Today, the New England Review, Yankee, and many other magazines and journals. He has been given the "Hart Crane Award" and the "Sarah Foley O'Loughlin Literary Award" for his poetry.