Sunday, June 30, 2019

QUEEN OF CRAFTSMEN: AN ADVENT SONG



QUEEN OF CRAFTSMEN: AN ADVENT SONG
Blow on exquisite blow,
the crystal hammers of her love
fasten the careful joinings of His bones.
Prophets have sung this craft:
how man may number
these bones, but never break an one of them.[1]

What blueprint guides you, Queen of architects,
to trace sure paths for wandering veins
that run Redemption’s wine?

Who dipped your brush, young artist, so to tint
the eyes and lips of God?  Where did you learn
to spin such silk of hair, and expertly
pull sinew, wind this Heart to tick our mercy?

Thrones, Powers, fall down, worshipping your craft
whom we, for want of better word, shall call
most beautiful of all the sons of men.

Worker in motherhood, take our splintery songs,
who witness What you make, in litanies[2]:
Queen of craftsmen, pray for us who wait.

Mother M Francis PCC
Friar. December 1961.  Used with permission



[1] John XIX:36
[2] Litanies:  Chains of petitions read out by a leader and responded to by a congregation.

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