In Egypt's ancient sands, a tale unfolds,
Of Mary, whose life a wondrous story holds.
Born to sin's grasp, she wandered astray,
Lost in the desert's unforgiving array.
Her path, a maze of folly and vice,
Yet in her heart, there flickered a quiet grace.
In shadows deep, she sought fleeting pleasure's lure,
But found no solace, no lasting cure.
Till one fateful day, midst the desert's haze,
She met the holy, in unexpected ways.
A pilgrim on a journey, devout and pure,
Whose presence stirred Mary, her soul to allure.
Driven by curiosity, she followed his lead,
To Jerusalem's hallowed ground, where hearts plead.
But barred from the sacred, by sins' heavy toll,
Mary wept bitterly, her anguish taking its toll.
In despair, she turned to the wilderness vast,
Seeking redemption, from her sinful past.
For forty long years, she roamed in the sand,
A penitent soul, seeking God's guiding hand.
Her garments turned to tatters, her skin scorched by the sun,
Yet Mary persisted, her journey far from done.
Till one day, on the banks of the Jordan's flow,
She beheld a vision, a revelation to know.
A voice from heaven, whispered soft and clear,
"Mary, your sins are forgiven, have no fear."
In that moment of grace, her heart found its peace,
As she knelt in reverence, her soul's release.
From that day forth, Mary lived in devotion,
A symbol of faith, in a world lost in commotion.
Her tale, a testament to the power of grace,
A sinner transformed, by love's embrace.
So let us remember Mary of Egypt's name,
A beacon of hope, in a world consumed by shame.
For in her story, we find redemption's call,
To seek forgiveness, and surrender all.
-- composed upon the Feast of St Mary of Egypt (May 3rd), 2024