Sr. Irene Zimmerman uses her imagination to take a few liberties with what may have been in His mind at this time. In doing so, she considers how remarkable and open to misinterpretation Mary's story is.

The poet, Elizabeth Bishop, finds the prodigal son living a hellish existence looking after pigs in a sty. His life is filthy and obscene without his relationship with his Father. He drinks. He lives amongst the dung.  The metaphor of the parable is obvious in the images painted so vividly by the poet. 

John Newton was a slave ship captain and investor in the salve trade until his conversion to Christianity. Then he became a prominent abolitionist and is most famous for writing the great hymn Amazing Grace.