Novena (NaPoWriMo Day 15--and yes, I still have some catching up to do!)

She is Our Lady of Divine

Self-Deprecation,

And though she shrouds

Her form beneath

A baggy sweater,

You shall know her by

The shield she wields

To deflect compliments

And the way 

She half-raises her hand 

In a timid blessing, 

Because of course

She understands

If you would rather

Get somebody better

To do it.

Please don’t count

Your prayers to her

On golden beads.

Reserve that for

Those goddesses who rise

From the foamy

Seas fully formed.

Not for her,

She’d be embarrassed.

And anyways, she has simpler needs—

Maybe some offerings of burnt

Reassurances now and then

Or a donut

On Monday mornings

To make her feel
Remembered.

Really,

That’s all it takes

To win her favor

And to gain

The unmerited grace

Of her sitting next to you

In important meetings—

Awkward and perspiring—

That you might shine

By comparison

In her presence,

And look good

While cleaning up

Her holy mess.