One Fierce Mother

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Mark 7:24-37

She was not one of the chosen
bred as among the righteous
her babies had to wait for treatment
had to stand in clinic lines.

She was a stranger to the authorities
but no stranger to God
the love burning in her heart
her fierce protective spirit
was a gift and sign her marking
of God's spirit within her.

Protective and tender sleepless nights
with fevered and hungry little ones
pacing and groaning with a love so deep
it opened her up and rubbed her raw.

A child was tormented strangers laughed
the religious sent her away her kind not welcomed
but she was a mother fierce and strong
and love made her argue, fight and prevail.

God's love, fierce and prevailing
protective and tender pacing in the night
whispering I love you more than words or time
I will give my all, my strength, my life
that you might smile, breathe and thrive
and know my love once again.