Mary, Mary Magdalene

Under a stony tree,

I throw a pebble on your back.

What will you send me?

I’ll send you for your Christening

A woollen robe to wear,

A shiny cup from which to sup,

And a name to bear. 

 Lying cool as snow, 

What will you be sending me, 

When to school I go? 

I’ll send a pencil and a pen 

That writes both clean and neat.

 And I’ll send to the schoolmaster 

A tongue that’s kind and sweet.

Lying in the sun, 

What will you be sending me,

 Now I’m twenty one? 

I’ll send you down a locket 

As silver as your skin,

 And I’ll send you a lover 

To fit a gold key in.

Underneath the spray,

 What will you be sending me 

On my wedding day?

 I’ll send you down some blossom,

 Some ribbon and some lace,

 And for the bride a veil to hide, 

The blushes on her face.

 Whiter than the swan,

Tell me what you’ll send me,

 Now my good man’s dead and gone

 I’ll send to you a single bed, 

On which you must lie,

 And pillows bright where tears may light 

That fall from your eye.

 Now nine months are done,

 What will you be sending me

 For my little son? 

I’ll send you for your baby

 A lucky stone and small, 

To throw to Mary Magdalene

 Lying on the wall.

For Black History Month 2016, we studied and imitated the poem, I, Too, written by African American playwright, activist, poet and columnist, Langston Hughes. 

We explored the themes of segregation, exclusion, inclusion and hope.
We thought about times when we may have felt excluded. Then, we wrote our own I, Too poems.
We learned to always have hope and believe in ourselves.