The Black Madonna

        Her skin is dark.
        And was it so?
        I do not know
the shade—the birch's or oak's bark.

        Her skin is black.
        And was it thus?
        She is all us
who mother God in our heart's shack.

        Our every shade—
        the dark and light,
        black, red, brown, white,
yellow, dwelt in that lovely maid.

        Give birth to Christ
        and join with her.
        The shade of her
is your own shade. Give birth to Christ.