We were asked to conduct an interview… here is one conversation I would love to have. Amy
A SEEKER SPEAKS TO THE MAGDALENE (Interview, Big Tent)
(Seeker) To witness your Lord
hanging on that cross
Bloodied, his voice parched
Can you see it, even now?
(Mary Magdalene) Waving crows off his face
lest they peck out his eyes
That vision is burned into my mind
My heart is crushed again and again
(S) They called you crazy
A whore and more
So afraid of you, the men
threw out your Gospel
(MM) Over the years, I was
discredited, my story edited
Details tacked on me
like cheap jewels, it’s true
(S) You used your wealth
to finance the ministry
You learned to heal
Trained, same as the men
(MM) But men had the power
Freer to travel alone in the world
I tried to teach, but without the Rabbi
they berated me
(S) We know your strength, sister
You risked your life to find his grave
He revealed his risen self to you first
You never ran away to hide
(MM) Women are the bearers and keepers
Women understand risk
We bleed; we heal; we wait
We love; we are patient, like the Spirit
(S) Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
The Epistles of Paul
The Revelation of John
But no Gospel of the Magdelene
(MM) I was left out of the Bible
But I don’t need that validation
The Divine Sofia, the Spirit of Wisdom spoke
Her voice is true… I am content with love
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore, Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Deb
Terrific take on the prompt. Personalizing the voice of MM via an interview method produced an engaging read.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Deb. Yes, too bad Entertainment Tonight wasn’t around in those days. And the tabloids: “Judas: His Tragic Last Days.” (Sorry, couldn’t help it, that just slipped out. Being a pastor’s wife has given me an irreverent streak a mile wide!)
I love interviews of all kinds, so it seemed to come together well. Will visit your site now. Amy
Paul Oakley
Amy, this is an important imagined conversation. It’s one theologians and ministers are still working through. (Can you believe it? I’s only been, what? 2 millennia?) I love your final stanza:
“I was left out of the Bible
But I don’t need that validation…“
Sharp Little Pencil
Paul, thanks very much. Yes, the Church spent years tacking every “bad Mary” sin on her they could, including prostitute. But as we saw with the woman who dealt in purple cloth for royalty, there were women of considerable means in those days, albeit rarely. I tell my daughter that MM is “my homegirl,” because I draw a lot of strength from her, as a strong, opinionated woman whose “demons” could very well have been seizures or some other disorder.
Tumblewords
Superb!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Susan. Have always wanted to clear the record on Mary Magdalene, one of the overlooked disciples and one of the most misinterpreted!
Mary
As another Mary, I was always interested in / felt an affinity toward the Mary’s in the Bible. (I was named after the Mary in the Mary and Martha story.) I do agree that Mary Magdalene should have received more recognition. Jesus himself paid much attention to women (though officially they were not disciples). I think Jesus operated within the culture of His day. In today’s world, MM would hopefully be given her own Gospel!
Here’s mine:
http://inthecornerofmyeye.blogspot.com/2010/07/true-tale.html
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you for a thoughtful reply, Mary. It’s funny, the Mary and Martha story? I used to feel sorry for Martha. Kind of wish Jesus had gone a bit further and said, “Mary has chosen the right way (to learn); now, Martha, come sit down and have a listen. And you guys (pointing to the disciples), get out to the kitchen and clean up, because I’ve told you all this stuff already!”
Mary of Magdala did have a gospel, but it was consider gnostic and not fit for inclusion in the “official” Bible, which was put together by “the winners,” meaning men. Some other gospels, including that of Thomas, who told of the small miracle Jesus performed as a child, blowing life into a clay bird and watching it fly away, were likewise discarded. Thank goodness someone hid them in jars – even though the are incomplete, they were dig up centuries later, tattered but vital testimonies.
Mary
LOL, if truth be told, I sometimes think I should have been named Martha, as so often I am the one who is serving something or clearing something so others can enjoy. Yes, indeed, Jesus should have chased the guys out to the kitchen!!
I hadn’t hear that story of Jesus as a child. What a wonderful miracle story indeed.
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, those books are called the Gnostic Gospels. Because they were stored for years in pottery, I think it might have been jugs, some chunks of wording were found illegible, so there are big gaps. You can find a book of those at the library, I’ll bet.
brenda w
The church fathers would never canonize the words of a harlot. You bring recognition and honor to all strong women. Excellent writing, Amy!
Elaine Pagels wrote a book called The Gnostic Gospels. Another source is a compilation entitled, The Other Bible. It covers several pieces of text that were floating around in the same period as those selected to become church canon.
Sharp Little Pencil
THANK YOU Brenda. It’s true: Mary Magdalene was branded a whore and more by the church. I have read the Pagels book. Also, there are several testimonies of early martyrs, including one woman named Perpetua, who was waiting to be thrown to the lions by the Romans. Bread and circuses and sin and blood and judgement. Kind of sounds like the world today, huh?
I read an article today bemoaning the “negativity” of poets online. While this is by no means a negative piece, I’m pleased it has sparked such a lively discourse. That’s my purpose in poetry – to rock the boat, shake off the cobwebs. Glad to see sisters AND brothers “got” this piece. Blessings to all! Amy
vivinfrance
Thankyou for posting the trail back here, as I had missed this first time round (having a hectic week).
I’m glad I read it, and shall look out for the books mentioned. Worth submitting it to Mslexia?
ViV
tillybud
I found this and the comments really interesting. I often ponder on the prevalence of women in the gospels, if we would only notice them. Pity the church didn’t follow Jesus’ example and recognise their worth.
Thought provoking.
May I make a suggestion? The voices are quite clear, so why not use italics, font or two sides of the page to separate them?
http://thelaughinghousewife.wordpress.com
Sharp Little Pencil
Great suggestion, Linda. I’m still experimenting with the possibilities of the WordPress design – tried to use italics but they wouldn’t “stick” in the view panel, so I gave up.
Will try again. I agree, it would make this a stronger piece and eliminate the need for parentheses. Two sides of the page would be ideal. Thanks! Amy
vivinfrance
I had the same layout problem, although WordPress did keep my 2 column approach (created by using a table in Word), but it would not keep the tercet lines together, nor stagger the responses as in the original.
Someone very kindly sent me details of how to do it in WordPress, but they were too complicated for my non-techy brain.
Sharp Little Pencil
If someone knows how to do the fancy stuff, I hope they will let us ALL know. In fact, let’s put this in as a general post when the next prompt comes up. Like a message in a bottle!
liv2write2day
What a great take on the prompt and I’m so glad you joined it to MMWP, too. I’d love to sit down and have a chat with her as well. She has been so maligned. I would love to know the whole story.
Sharp Little Pencil
Isn’t it interesting how, once the men of Nicea all got together and convened to decide what would be the “true” Bible, any books with references to Mary Magdalene were tossed out (including Thomas and MM herself). She was a gifted disciple, equal in all ways to men – but history is written by the winners, they say. In this case, it was the Church, and its men in skirts, busting about, wringing their hands, and deciding that anyone named Mary (save the mother of Jesus and Martha’s sister) and any unnamed woman were all MM: The woman who anoints Jesus’ feet, the prostitute who is saved from stoning by Jesus, etc. Also the assumption that Mary was a whore is the root of the whole “Madonna/Whore” concept – that we are one or the other, with no in between status. This illogic prevailed for centuries until first, women’s suffrage, and then, the feminist movement. And still, the Church hangs on to these outmoded concepts – some of them, anyway. Certainly not the United Church of Christ, or I would not be a member, nor would I have married a man who would become a pastor. He is a feminist, too, and we are active in LGBTQ rights and civil rights in general. Wow, I really can blather!!! Amy
becca givens
Amy – I very much enjoyed your interview, how you set it up and the comments and replies to go with it. Gives us much to ponder and consider. I agree it is a shame MM and her ministry were not given more focus. Thank you for sharing.
Sharp Little Pencil
Becca, I cannot take credit for the setup = that is all Sherry Blue Sky, who knows me well and “knew which buttons to push.” She is one of the main Poets U. folks. I appreciate that you feel my opinions were food for thought, though. No one has ever had to tell me, “Don’t hold back, Amy – tell us how you really feel!” LOL Peace, A
liv2write2day
Amy, thanks for sending me the e-mail. I’ve enjoyed purusing all the comments. I so struggle with the patriarchal tone of my church…last night at Mass…yikes. How do you learn to embrace the essence of the gospel and ignore some of the “teaching?” It can be so confusing. Thanks so much for your “blathering.” :0)
Sharp Little Pencil
The church thing is simple. I have but three guidelines: 1. If you do everything your pastor or priest tells you to do, you’re an idiot. (My husband is a pastor and he gave me this quote!!) 2. If the essence of your faith is The Gospels, take the O.T. with a grain of salt, and remember, we were ALL created in the image of God, and Mary Magdalene was the first disciple to see the risen Christ… and the women never left Jesus hanging there on the Cross. The men all ran away. And finally, 3. If you live by The Great Commandment, to love God with all your heart, soul, etc. and love your neighbor as yourself, the “yourself” part means you must have self-esteem. That will give you the courage to speak up for others, as well as for yourself.
When in doubt, I happen to know the United Church of Christ is full of ex-Catholics, including my pastor husband, LOL. He didn’t like the way the Church treated his gay sister, and his older sister who was divorced and treated badly. How’s that for blathering? I take all comers, for those who think I’m full of it! Amy