The first theologian

 

was a woman

who came seeking

 

nothing

 

for herself;

a day of walking

 

in the heat, in the sun,

she came

 

for her daughter

she came

 

like something wild out of the desert

she came

 

eyes almost blind with fear,

face streaked with sweat

 

and dirt matted hair, she came

crying out

 

until the voices whispered

like demons of her own

 

driving her away

By what right

 

did they say these things

call her a dog

 

to drive her away;

but she would not leave

 

until she received

the nothing she had come for;

 

and when he turned,

it was not to her

 

he said: It is not right

to take the children’s food

 

and throw it to the dogs;

but she knowing only

 

her daughter’s need

accepted even this as gift, 

asking only: How then

are the dogs to be fed?

 

And there it was, 

that he turned and sighed,

Your faith is great. It shall be

done for you as you desire.

And there it was,

the nothing she asked

 

becoming the gift

her daughter received.