Mary’s Swaddled like Jesus I wonder who’s closer to God A gentle army joins together On plains no feet remember Arms locked, eyes clear, heads bowed at the nave Twilight’s blessing, expected in embers But the sky’s hush drowns their dreams The entity has already fled  Across the world Circling Orbiting Hawking Atop a stolen halo Ready for the next virgin Who dare rest her head on man-scorched hay They’ll swaddle her like Jesus To save her unsent Son I wonder if they hear Deferred messiahs Octuplet-sets, in concrete wombs for one Wailing Begging Praying For their stolen homes But chopper blades soundproof the brain Maybe Mary’s set free And the cloth has calmed her sighs Her palms lay empty & open Awaiting answers from the skies Mary’s lost like Jesus But maybe she’s closer to God Brendan Carroll is a Senior in the SFS majoring in Business & Global Affairs with a minor in Justice & Peace Studies