My annual poem:
(scroll down for YouTube videos of the celebration)
My heart will be in
Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer
Where my soul will dance
In Languedoc, Camargue
The South of France
Not only a refuge for the Knights Templar
And Mary La Magdalene
But also home to countless images
Of Black Virgins so serene
Reflecting peaceful love
Sara E Kali—Sara the Black—
Confluence of the Hindu Goddess Kali
Women warriors combating political folly
Some sinners but certainly
The church-approved saints
One version of the story
Tells of Marie Jacobe and Marie Salome
Accompanying Mary Magdalene
When she fled the Holy Land
After attempting to make a stand
We Roma believe that
Sara, a Gypsy,
Saw their boat floundering and
Tossed her (head scarf) diklo
Upon the waters, when they could not row
This enabled the three Marys to
Walk or sail across the water to shore
Establishing a rapport
Between the women forever more
As they brought their message of peace
The Roma come to the town
These two dates in May
To celebrate Sara E Kali
Patron saint of Gypsies and Travellers
To show their love on a feast day
In an alcove stands the tall, lovely statue
Serenely gazing out of large, dark eyes
Covered in beautiful, filmy diklos
Presented by those who ask for help
Or have received help from one so wise
Saint Sara E Kali, carried into the sea
Violins and voices of praise
This sublime personification of a
Saint-Goddess-Woman surrounded by bouquets
Apocryphal representative of our bloodlines
© 2015 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja), Parallel Universe Café and Other Poems
IMAGE: Personal statue of St. Sara E Kali in a Mulberry Bush
https://youtu.be/sshwtkEAxvY Les Saintes Maries-de-la-mer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6jx8EIZbIs Gipsy Kings background music Les Saintes Maries-de-la-mer
