Hannah’s Promise

My womb a hollow desert, yawning wide
Swallowing my dreams of motherhood whole
Long yearning nights I lay down and cried
Urging my body to fulfil its role.
His other wife taunting me, mocking my
Emptiness, he just stood deaf to my pain
Stabbing me with each child’s face, at each sigh
Torn from my throbbing flesh, driving insane.
I go to the Temple to make my plea
Murmur desperation into God’s ear
The priest thinks I am drunk, rebuking me
I set him straight, he says my dream is near.
A son, fruit of hard faith, my wound healed
Sworn to God’s Temple, a promise sealed.

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