Who Will Believe?

O' heart's sorrow, what is this thing you've done,
our life together soon to have begun,
my trust in you was such a surety,
tho' it cannot be with no purity.

Hear my plea my love, yes I am with child,
yet innocent, you know me meek and mild,
I've spoke truth, why can you not believe?
Why mistrust me? I swear I don't deceive.

Mercy I will show, I'll not have you shamed,
nor gossip fly or your sin widely famed,
you'll not worry for any living needs,
there shall be no price for your sinful deeds.

The cost I bear is greater than you know,
my loss of you, love, will be my great woe,
I shall fill rivers with sorrowful tears,
all my life alone, long and empty years.

Take leave woman on the morrow's first light,
this that I do is what I know is right,
you I loved will always be in my heart,
pierced now with betrayal's stinging dart.

Farewell love, I will stand till he is gone,
and perhaps I will weep till night is dawn,
I know the truth, why could he not believe?
Who will believe how this child was conceived?



O' deep sleep, what is this that I have dreamed,
my love's purity, heavenly redeemed,
yet dawn's first light the eastern sky does show,
hurry I must, before my love shall go.

Dear Lord in Heaven, in sorrow I pray,
with my future husband, I long to stay,
this price, Your will, so heavy to carry,
why wait I here beyond light and tarry?

What one do I see in front of her home?
Standing forlorn and looking so alone,
tis her mother mourning her departure?
Then tis my heart pierced by love's cruel archer.

Who wanders so early down yonder lane?
Tis my love come to see my further pain?
But what spring is this in his sorrow's step?
What change has come while my love slept?

Dear Mary, love, an Angel this night spoke,
and the truth I knew when early I woke,
Blessed women, and future bride of mine,
In you, our Lord has given us a sign.

Thank You my God that You have confirmed me,
to my love and my husband soon to be,
Joseph, love, a Savior I am to bare,
a joyous event that we will now share!

Matthew 1:19-25
From "Stones from the River" CR 2009

This poem was a finalist in the October 2009 poetry contest