The brutal brunt of power that blasts from Rome,
whose pagan legions straddle half the earth,
has clashed with ancient Hebrew hopes of home
and crushed them all before they come to birth.
The background seethes: an ugly, thwarted crew,
whose venom spits in twisted, squalid deals,
has hatched a plot to kill a fellow Jew;
with thirty silver coins, the trap is sealed.
As Mary knows his time is drawing near,
and sensing that his death is imminent
she breaks the jar of nard that’s cost her dear,
anointing Jesus with the fragrant scent.
This act of beauty owns a special place
in memory of love and perfumed grace.
