‘Womb’ a poem by Miriam Jesse Fisher

Textile art by Miriam Jesse Fisher

Womb

life
emerges from the dark of a woman’s womb
it is nurtured at her breast

it learns its true songs
whispered on her breath
hope sews infant life together, sturdy
in her murmured prayers

these songs
these prayers
shared
during the small dark hours of day
known only to mothers, and bakers
and those who silently rise to order the world we wake to

those who coax warmth from cold
in the quiet of predawn
layers of commitment
patiently attentive, confident of growth

dark hours known intimately to the one who watches over
who does not slumber or sleep
the God who attends

motherly
bakerly

so it was the Word, ancient - in the eternal sense
found himself
nurtured in the dark of a womb
nursed at breast
the Word learned
the true songs, again
in the lilt of an exhausted mother’s voice

this woman who rose
to the post of her squalling vocation
in the forgotten hours of night

isn’t all of humanity hinged
on her body
on our womanly bodies

their humility and self-giving
the kenosis
of women

how women might
know
say
understand
with lived conviction
something of those ancient words
the Word spoke into our hopes
and our imaginaries

this is my body, given for you

as we give our bodies
might we know how to be nurtured
in the womb
and at the breast of
God

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Miriam Jessie Fisher is a poet, textile artist, educator and theologian who lives with joyful extroversion and contemplative wonder in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She works as an interdisciplinary lecturer in Theology and Education at Laidlaw College. Her default setting is Hope.

This poem was featured in the Winter 2025 issue of Refresh - Sacred Feminine.

Refresh is SGM’s journal of contemplative spirituality in Aotearoa, New Zealand. You can view the current issue of Refresh or browse the archives in the Refresh section of this website.