UNBRIDLED II

A man of seemingly simple features

Yet aura surrounded him like a living tangible cloud

His words flowed over me

Soft and melodious yet resounding in my heart like the life-giver of my beating heart

I reached his feet,

With his face turned away from mine,

I knelt at his feet

My head bent in fear of seeing the rejection in his eyes

I unstopped my jar

And turned out the contents on him

His feet were all I could see with my head bent

It dribbled and poured and the scent wafted up and filled my senses

With the same care and more than I had used on my skin

I used on him,

I had just spilled the best and most expensive oil

Such was the life I had that I could afford this

At the recesses of my mind, I felt outrage spill out from the public

I pulled my hair closer to his feet and used my hair to wipe the excesses.

His hand touched my shoulder

And oh! Ohhhhh! What peace!

My shame fell away like a bunch of dirt rags flung afar

The hole of despair got swallowed up by a wave of pure light

I raised up my head and his eyes looked into mine.

I saw his lips move and realized he was responding to the crowd’s outrage

I could not care less

Nothing could take away the joy and the peace and the love all –consuming I felt at that moment

I made a shocking discovery in that second:

I love this man, wholeheartedly, unreservedly, irrevocably

I would die for this man

I would give my earthly possessions for the sake of this one man

This man that had not only restored my dignity but given me a new measure of hope

A smile broke through my face and he smiled back

And he gave me the tiniest nod

I stood up straight and looked back at the crowds

I, Mary Magdalene, a former prostitute, felt like a new born baby

I, Mary Magdalene, have just been given a brand new slate to start life afresh

I, Mary Magdalene, was totally FREE.

UNBRIDLED I

Footsteps dragging

Back aching,

Heels peeling

Sweat mingled with my tears dripping into my eyes

I walked.

Children mocking

Encouraged by parents

Clawing at my skin

Skin soft and smooth from the faithful treatment of oils

I held my package close and tight to my body.

Elders sneering, jeering

All waiting to witness my shame

Anticipating my public disgrace

I raised my head and looked straight at the faces I had been intimate with

They all refused to return my gaze

Each one praying I do not rest my gaze on them

I walked ahead.

I had come to the end of my soul struggles

I had survived in the only way I knew how

But the inner shame and despair crushing my ribs

At d fear of such a bleak existence for the rest of my lives,

was the cost of living a life like mine.

I had gotten to the stage were hope was a treasured commodity

It was the only thing that kept me alive and it was the only thing that kept me walking

The crowds parted until I saw him,

My eyes rested on him and

Thrills raced up my spine

The hairs on my neck stood still as electricity rocketed my body

Nothing at that point would have kept me from reaching him.