Mary

They get her out Once a year In all her velvet dignity And she glides through the streets Frozen, sickly, sad and sweet Engorged in gemstones Seated on a gold throne Oh, she is rich now Our lady of sorrows She weeps She weeps for those who place their votive offerings at her feet Oh, Christ, her nails But Mary had sins of a thousand penitent beasts Mother Mary Mary Mother, Mother, Mother They growl, they scream But Mary, oh, Mary She was made of oat and walnut Skin sweet, deep, melting like chocolate And her mouth could move across her warm cheek A smile or a frown furrowed her brow The corner of her eye a crooked pin The beginnings of a smile, a grin Hot tears moving, flowing and human She tasted flesh upon her tongue She and Joseph, they made love Yes, they made love And this was her benediction No immaculate conception This was her benediction No immaculate conception This was her benediction No immaculate conception This was her benediction Emancipate Mary She jumps from the palistrade And burns through the streets Dirty, barefoot, hair streaming Lace in tatters, wild and screaming Crying, laughing, kicking, gleaming And dancing And dancing And dancing And dancing And dancing And dancing And dancing And dancing And dancing On the edge of the world