I am wrapping up my series of art and poems based on the words Jesus spoke to women with this final poem! This poem is based on the account of Jesus’ words spoken to Mary at his empty tomb, found in John 20:1-18

This is the artwork I created for this poem:

Here is my recording of the poem:

I show up before the sun
a cracked perfume jar
for a broken body

I knew his hour had come
I believed his words, yet
my body now betrays me

rising panic
dreaded and familiar
squeezes the breath in my throat

how can I return to the torment
distant and cut off
from even my own soul?

the sun just graying the sky
I plead undeterred
with angels and a strange gardener

 “Woman, why are you weeping?
Who are you looking for?”

for my Lord and his body
–all I can think of
to expect here

“Mary”

sun breaks over the trees
on the living, smiling face
of my Great Teacher and friend

and I know him
and myself
again

I cling
to his body
warm and alive

“Don’t hold me,
for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father;
but go to my brothers and tell them,
I am ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.”

You see, I didn’t need to
cling to him
because he was here to stay

his house—my home
his father—my Father
his God–my God

and everything he said
is real and true
and good

and like fragrant oil filling a room
his is the story I tell
and the song I sing

COPYRIGHT/USAGE: All writing, artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. Please do not repost or resell on another website. I’m happy for you to use my coloring pages and other printables for home, school, and ministry. If you share content, please link back to the original post. Thank you!

jesus speaks to women