Annunciation

Ah Gabriel! How hard a task was laid on you, how hard the trust, how hard to travel through the empty miles of space unto a cloistered girl who knew no man, to startle her and race her heart past fear, and then announce strange words -- that she would bear a son of destiny who would be named as Yahweh's chosen one. Was all the gospeling the holy one commanded you to speak some comfort to her then? Or did her face grow white as stone? And did her knees collapse with all the gloried weight of you? Were you to her a hollow wind, within the tensing air a shadow blurred, a light askance just there beyond the corner of her eye, an echo of a voice beyond the upland hills? Or did she know you then for what you are, God's able bodied one, God's might, and look you eye in eye, and calmly kneel in smiling awe, amazed at all the golden splendor in your wings and wake, with gentle handmaid's reverence and, grace inflamed, said yes, hands crossed along her heart, her belly swelling quick with majesty, reducing you to tears?