Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 18, No. 10. July 15, 1954
The Madonna of the Poets
The Madonna of the Poets
Virgin mother, daughter of your son.
Lowly yet raised higher than every other creature.
Established end of the eternal plan,
It was through you alone that human nature
Was to ennobled that its own Creator
Did not disdain to be made in its making.
Oh how much it must have cost the Angles
not suddenly to burst into song, as into tears.
for they new that this night the Mother is born
to the Son, to the One who will soon appear.
diligence is that mother of good [unclear: icul]
(Rilke, Life of Merry)
Mary, in soaring
To kingdoms eternal,
Hear our imploring,
Thou beyond rival,
Fount of survival . . .
Uniquely tender,
Thou queen of splendor,
Thy visage render
Benign towards my felicity!
She is also the "mater dolorose",
For your sake, Madonna,
And for the sake of your son,
I have suffered much . . .
Yet, heavenly one, yet will I
Praise you, and I do not fear
That my mind will fail
Within your blessed power.
(To the Madonna)
Mother, whose virgin bosom was uncrossed
With the least shade of thought to sin allied:
Woman! above all women glorified.
Our tainted nature's solitary boast.
Moder and mayden
Was never non but she:
Well may switch a lady
Godes moder be.
Thus your desire
Greater than God's
For Our Lady of Puy-de-Dome.
(L'Aura Amara)
V ous portastes, digne Vierge, princess,
I esus regnant, qui N'a ne fin ne cesse.
L e Tout Puissant, prenant nostre foiblesse,
L aissa les cieuls et nous vint serourir,
O ffrit a mart sa tres chiere jeunesse.
N ostra Seigneur tel ost, tel le confesse,
En cesta foy je vueil vivre et mourir.
With the Word Divine
The Virgin, pregnant,
Comes along the road
If you give her lodging.
Cathalic Students' Guild