penance penance penance

penance penance penance
she said
as she lie dying
at the end
of her short life,
having seen the blessed
virgin,
the immaculate
conception.
insane, feeble minded,
a poor child
seeing visions,
why would God choose her
to be a Saint,
not those
in robes, at the heads
of church.
and the water
that sprung from rocks
and dirt,
making the blind see,
the crippled walk,
what is this that lies
beyond our reason,
how often do we need
a Bernadette to still our
doubt,
restore our faith.