The Song of Elizabeth

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
–-Luke 1:39-45

Behold, my love comes o'er the hills
as softly as the deer steps forth,
as sweetly as the trickling rills
come bless the winter-laden earth.

As yet he hides behind the wall,
but love is coming to the door
to bring me to his banquet hall—
So comes the mother of my Lord.

And now I hear the true dove's voice
that says the winter days are past,
and this within me leaps for joy 
to recognize its spring at last.

Who am I, that this love should come
when God has done such things for me?
And she who said,“Let it be done,”
oh, blest is she who has believed!

And now he grows within her womb.
The barren fig tree puts forth buds;
the desert wakes and greens and blooms
when he tells me, “Arise, my love!”

These leaves survive from what must have been an extraordinarily rich book of hours. Stylistically, the illuminations relate to the workshop of Henri d’Orquevaulx, a documented Metz manuscript painter. Little is known about d’Orquevaulx’s life or career. Compositionally, structurally, and stylistically, the miniatures suggest strong links to Netherlandish illumination. By Henri d’Orquevaulx – https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.172, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77719154

Visitation

The fountain where salvation springs
that death could not destroy:
From you, the flood shall topple kings
and mighty ones despoil.
The poor shall taste the feast he brings:
the grain, the wine, the oil,
but in your heart yet keep these things
and pour them out in joy.

Because of you, then, blest are we
on whom those waters spilled:
Christ Jesus shall the hungry feed
and empty he shall fill.
Now blest are those who have not seen
but who believe him still,
and blest are you who have believed
the Word would be fulfilled.

For now the desert runs with streams
transforming us within,
and we can rest in Christ our peace,
his pastures cool and dim.
So pray for us, that we might see
God-with-us, bone and skin,
and pray, O Mother—let it be!—
that we shall be like him!

Manuscript Illumination with the Visitation in an Initial D, from a Choir Book. Art forgery attributed to “the Spanish Forger” – https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/467415, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59007587

Visitation

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
Luke 1:39-56

Within me, yet not of me,
in answer to your voice:
the sudden wave that floods me,
the flutters of his joy.

The child of such long promise
sees more than I can see—
What light shines in his darkness,
now you have come to me?

And silently he shouts it;
what words can barely form
his ecstasy announces:
The coming of the Lord!

Who am I to receive him,
unseen though he appears?
Blest are you who believed it,
the word that touched your ears!

For here within your body
salvation lies in wait,
and when he parts those waters,
new life shall run in spate!

Across the hills you bear him,
how hiddenly, the Christ,
and I, who have been barren,
am bearer of delight!

Master of the Geneva Latini – Book of Hours (Use of Rouen)- fol. 39r, The Visitation – 1952.227.39.a – Cleveland Museum of Art (cropped) By Master of the Rouen Echevinage – https://clevelandart.org/art/1952.227.39.a, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77867996

Mother of My Lord

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
Luke 1:39-56

Oh, come to me across the hills
on any rugged path you find, 
and though it calls you backward still,
leave dusty Galilee behind

to let me hear you say my name.
Call to my now in ancient voice
to crack my chrysalis of shame
as something in me leaps for joy.

O Mother of my Lord, O blest,
how can it be that you should come?
But like the swallow, build your nest
and stoop to rest in this, your home:

no bygone shrine, untouched by years,
but living, breathing dirt and grime.
Come clothe him in my sweat and tears
and cradle him in arms like mine.

Not in a page of history
or atlas of a distant land,
but come, my mother: Visit me;
I'll feel him move beneath my hands.

Bring him to me! Bring me your son,
and quicken me with his own life,
that all my days while yet they run,
may hold the living, present Christ.

Eastern Christian fresco of the Visitation in St. George Church in Kurbinovo, North Macedonia By Unknown author – http://faq.macedonia.org/images/embrace.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9976800

How Can It Be? (Elizabeth’s Song)

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
Luke 1: 39-45

How can it be, in these late days,
that you should visit here?
That something in me leaps in praise
to know you drawing near?

How can it be, O living Lord,
though I had given up,
you now fulfill your ancient word
and fill the empty cup?

That after all my long despair,
O God, how can it be
you tear away the earthly veil
and come to dwell with me?

That you should fill me with your life
and fill my mouth with song,
and in my heart your wellsprings rise
where drought had reigned so long?

Now shall the barren places bloom,
the deserts harvest joys,
now you have filled the inner room
and freed the muted voice!

I have no words to speak of this
but these: How can it be?
I know not how, but so it is:
My Lord has come to me!

Visitation

My soul proclaims you, Lord my God,
for everything you are.
Though nothing, I am in your thought
and ever in your arm.

For you leaped down from heaven's throne
to share the fallen's shame.
Now all the mighty are cast down
in honor of your name.

You emptied out your every vein
that death itself be killed,
and now the full are sent away,
the empty ones are filled.

The lowly rise; the hungry feast;
the mighty learn to cower,
and now the fearful ones are blessed,
for you have shown your power.

Your mercy, promised long ago
and never since forgot,
in this and every age you show,
so I rejoice, my God!