Christina Continelli

Liz’s Litany, or the Un-Catholic Marianist

(Inspired by “A Marianist Litany to Mary,” By Rev. Joseph H. Lackner)

Liz. This blasphemy’s for you. Fate chose you as the precursor to a happening, and called all nations and generations to mark your passing with calla lilies and sweet tea smells. In the company of those who have gone before us, with people of all races and languages, we call upon you in prayer.

Obscure Lizzie (Response: pray for us)

Queen of the swap meet,

Queen of the #7 Downtown Bus,

Queen of the fibromayalgic sashay,

Queen of the 5150 holiday,

Queen of broke-ass literary man-children,

Queen of seaweed and Jim Beam,

Queen shiv-ed in the heart,

Queen sometimes merciful,

Woman of the anarchist cheerleading squad,

Woman who curses like a stevedore,

Woman with a bagful of medicinal jewels

Woman with a direct gaze,

Woman with no viable employment,

Woman with vampire limbs

Woman on a day pass,

Woman delectable and cruel as an unplanned Saturday night,

Woman champion of the poor and lovely,

Woman with golden ventricles and copper veins,

Woman with a pocketful of change,

Woman at the crossroads,

Cowgirl in silent windows,

Cowgirl without doubt

Cowgirl who went to Montana once

Cowgirl of the footy-pajamas dotted with candy-canes,

Cowgirl of the 50 year old lecher

Cowgirl of the meteor shower

Cowgirl of the $3.00 matinee

Queen of destiny, Liz, you are a swinging virgin, wife and serial killer, peasant and dandy—blessed for all time. We need your slippered feet and slap-happy entourage. Remain with us always as we were to you, lovers, friends, and easy prey. Through memory which is the only mark of happiness, for ever and ever. Amen.

Christina Continelli is a poet, fiction writer, and essayist who first cut her writing teeth in the San Diego spoken word scene. She then moved on to Oakland, CA to pursue a MFA in poetry from California College of the Arts. She continues to reside in The San Francisco Bay Area. Her work has appeared in How2 Magazine, Tattoosday, and Slice Magazine.