Fig Tree

Originally for this Sunday, but being posted on the Annunciation:

The fig tree does not blossom;
no grape swells on the vine
that twines around the crossbeam—
yet we shall drink the wine.

And though your arms are empty,
and withered is your root
as barren as the fig tree,
you, too, shall bear good fruit.

For something sweet is growing
to burden barren wood,
its sap forever flowing,
its roots where Adam stood.

It blossomed in the desert
with Moses drawing near,
the Godhead fully present—
Take off your sandals here

and see the flame that dances
where nothing yet had bloomed:
It burns along your branches,
but you are not consumed.

A fount in you is flowing
and never will it cease,
for Christ himself is growing
all on our barren trees.

Traditional icon of Our Lady of the Burning Bush (Neopalimaya Kupina). By Anonymous – http://days.pravoslavie.ru/Images/ii2914&263.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3639213

Eve of the Annunciation

This is the final moment of “before,”
the last day of our unheard crying out.
Tomorrow comes what's never come before:
The first drop ending eras of our drought.

Unseen, as minuscule as all our hope:
one drop, but it's enough to break the light
and show the wonders hidden from our scope
since first we hid ourselves from heaven's sight.

One drop tomorrow, presaging a flood—
and all our fears of drowning in that day
are washed of all the centuries of mud
that clogged our wheels—it opens up a way.

Our vision of the world breaks all apart
in colors that were always buried there
when heaven beats within a human heart.
You come, O Christ, to lay all heaven bare.

Today, though, all the sky is merely blue,
unclouded, empty, gaping, barren, dry.
Tomorrow, Lord, when Mary welcomes you,
your wonders will begin to fill our sky.

A colorful rainbow and ring-billed gull By Rhododendrites – OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132660372

The Message of the Angel

And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
—Luke 1:26-38

Rejoice, O greatly troubled,
uncertain and afraid:
Though mountains shake to rubble,
the Lord is on his way.

Rejoice through every sadness,
O highly favored one:
Though oceans rise in anguish,
yet you shall bear a son.

Now you both trust and tremble
and ask how this can be;
though David's throne stands empty,
his son shall set you free.

Recall the prophets' tellings:
Rejoice amid your fear,
for God comes to his dwelling
and even now draws near.

Rejoice in what was promised;
remember what was done.
The Lord has not forgotten,
and mercy still shall come.

Though now you sit in darkness,
for joy you shall yet sing:
This shadow now upon you
is God the Most High's wings.

Annunciation by Armenian manuscript illuminator Toros Roslin, 13th century By uploader Koperczak (talk) 08:52, 26 March 2009 (UTC), Toros Roslin – Miniatures Armeniennes, Ayastan, Erevan 1967, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6341938