ναχωρέω, [Greek]
Christian medieval
female withdrawn
from secular society,
in piety leads withdrawn
prayer-oriented religious
mass-focused interior life,

afflictions, plague, strife
not God's punishment,
beyond the reality of
hell-fire, listening to
Julian of Norwich's choir,

walls built into the church
with one slit facing the body
of the church, Anchoress observes
mass, passed trays of food, 
in quiet, contemplative mood,

barred window faces outside
world,  placed there at her own
request, to talk to her guest,
never leaving her abode,

constant contemplation
of God's inspiration hour,
Anchoress gains reputation
for wisdom and mystical power,

Anchoress the fount of gossip
for her community, knows
everything going on in the
corner of the Den village by
observing it, constantly
watching, Anchoress sees much,

leaving a lasting impression
on Christian spirituality,

could she be just a voyeur,
vowing a higher commitment
to destroying the sensuality
of her body, thus increasing
her connection to the divine
she thinks; what causes a woman
to deny her Goddess-given sexuality...


Copyright 2006 Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist