Knitting Madonna, by Clare Bryden

"Knitting Madonna,” detail from The Buxtehude Altar, by Master Bertram (modern Germany) c. 1400-10

Knitting Madonna 

Jesus has grown — no manger bed, no showers 
of stars — to bide in shade of appled trees. 
For now, casting off childish toys, he reads 
in passing peace amid the snake’s head flowers 
while Mary knits, arrayed in cheerful gown 
to greet two angels clad in pinks and greens, 
as though their festive Sunday best would ease 
the somber word they bring of somber hours. 

So Jesus lays aside his book — he knows 
before he marks the angels’ hold on lance 
and thorny crown and threefold nails and cross. 
His wistful smile reveals he understands 
the angel watching Mary grieve her loss, 
his seamless robe unfinished in her hands. 

Clare Bryden

Clare Bryden is a writer and web developer based in Exeter, UK. Her interests are wide-ranging, but primarily the place of humanity within the natural world of which we are part, and the related theology and psychology of connectedness.  Her poetry has been published in Ink Sweat and Tears, The Christian Century and the British Dental Journal among others. In 2025 she achieved 111 rejections. In 2026 she could finally start harvesting asparagus from her garden.