BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE

​BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE

​ 
In the poem “Behold, a Virgin Shall Conceive,” from Anne Babson’s poetry collection MESSIAH, the poet presents a conversation between a nurse and a young pregnant girl who is seeking guidance and support. The title of the poem refers to a biblical passage from the book of Isaiah and Matthew, in which a virgin gives birth to a son who will be named Immanuel, which means "God with us."
 
The poem begins with the nurse describing her shift at work and her encounter with the pregnant young girl. The nurse expresses her shock at the girl's age and lack of knowledge about how she got pregnant. There is a distinct sweetness, innocence, and mystery to the girl. Despite all this, the girl is determined to keep the baby and has a boyfriend she hopes will help her raise the child. The nurse notes that, in their state, parental notification is not required for the girl to seek medical care, and she speculates that the girl's father may already know about the pregnancy.
 
The nurse describes the girl as elegant and not easily scared, despite her difficult situation. The nurse is struck by the girl's sense of expectation and joy, despite the challenges she will face as a single mother. The poem ends with the nurse reflecting on the girl's resilience and the difficulties young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds face.
 
Overall, the poem presents a poignant and thought-provoking portrayal of the challenges faced by young, pregnant girls and their resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The biblical reference in the title adds a layer of religious and spiritual meaning to the poem, highlighting the idea of hope and divine intervention in difficult circumstances.
 
The story helps us imagine what it would be like for the Virgin Mary to give birth to Jesus in these modern times. It asks the question. What challenges would Mary face today in 21st-century American society? Would anyone believe her? Would she be treated with compassion or be judged harshly and with indifference? Will wise men suddenly appear? Will she find the expected joy of giving birth to the Baby Jesus?
 
 
 
BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE
 
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” –– Isaiah 7:14
 
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall
call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”  –– Matthew 1:23
 
A rough shift this evening, darlin’!  I worked graveyard again.
This girl came in.  Was she even fourteen?  Pregnant.
She claimed she had never done a dang thing that would
Get a girl in trouble.  She barely knew about
Birds and bees.  So young, sweet really!  I told her all
Her options.  She’s keeping it.  She says she has a
Boyfriend who’ll help out – so she hopes.  Thank God
Parental notification isn’t required
In this state!  She thinks her father already knows.
I bet he does, the bastard!  What those girls go through!
Sure didn’t come from the right side of the tracks, but
She had this air about her, kind of elegant.
Nothing I said scared her.  They most times cry.
She was – how can I explain it – expecting joy.
 

 
“Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive” 
was first published in
14 Magazine in the UK.
Anne Babson © 2019
 
 

​MESSIAH, a post-modern bop through our culture set in diverse elements of the American landscape—  from a Manhattan subway station, to mills of rural Louisiana, to the mean streets of Detroit, to the wilds of the American Northwest, to Yankee Stadium, to the hills of Bellaire —  writes back to the Bible passages with which Handel composed his Messiah Oratorio without challenging their theological meaning but setting them, as most sacred art does, in the contemporary. Anne Babson’s poetry isn’t “churchy,” but it is replete with passionate exhortation, delighting in Americans in their imperfections and calling for a subversive conspiracy of love and a new era of compassion. The book is set to a soundtrack of American music, where the rapture trumpet is blown by Louis Armstrong, where the angels sing in doo-wop chorus, and where Handel’s “Chorus: Hallelujah” turns into a Southern Rock anthem. The work is about us and our needs, our playlist, our delights, and the possibility of radical forgiveness and a return to hope.

PRESS RELEASE – MESSIAH
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD: LEGATO ARRANGEMENT
BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE
THUS SAITH THE LORD (TRANSPOSED FOR SOPRANO)
THE RICH YOUNG RULER

Note: This literary analysis content was originally generated by the OpenAI-ChatGPT artificial intelligence service, edited, and enhanced afterward for grammar and writing style.
 
OpenAI Website: https://openai.com/about/