Once there was a woman…
dreaming of life
but not living it
she tried marriage
she tried booze

(tell me her story
the way we girls wish
we had heard it
in Sunday School,
where she
loses her voice)

she tugs at Jesus’ coat
makes signs with her arms
opens her mouth but nothing
comes out

Jesus tells her he can’t
give a woman a voice
she follows him down the road
with the crowd laughing
shoving her back

she tries to get him to stop
she wants her voice
he looks at her this time
touches her lips
she speaks