Mary

she bought her lotioned perfume
with the proceeds of sin
bought it for herself
a little luxury, a little something
for the wizened days that surely come.

the men paid, some dearly,
and she provided for herself
a little bit of her dream
compensation for the shame
the shame.

but then he came
he was the dream personified,
focused, restated,
the dream made holy
the dream whose fulfillment
now she knew, seeing it,
she could never possess by seduction
or put in an alabaster box
a glory she gave herself to follow
a breaking revelation pouring out of herself,
knowing she had sinned and what it was
sinned against herself, the vision,
against the whole world
she washed his feet with her tears.
She knew her only hope,
 his forgiveness
and in front of all the uncomfortable men,
he simply forgave.

In front of all the uncomfortable men,
she was born again.