Annunciation

Annunciation

Some time ago,

heaven and earth

met in this place. Since

then it has been fought

over, covered with

concrete and marble,

and encircled by symbols

which claim possession.

When reverence and

peace settle on the

shrine, screaming light

continues to assail the icons

of our hearts. But if we

remain still, deaf to colour

and blind to noise, then in

the caves of the soul, heaven

and earth can meet again

where they say an angel

once stood.

VAUGHAN S. ROBERTS*

* The Rev. Dr. Vaughan S. Roberts is Director of Ordinands for the Diocese of Bath and Wells in England. Her note on this poem reads as follows: "There are two traditional shrines in Nazareth to Mary's encounter with Gabriel: the Orthodox shrine is at the town's well and the Roman Catholic shrine is at what is thought to be Mary's House. This poem was written at the Latin Rite Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth."

Copyright Anglican Theological Review, Inc. Spring 2002
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