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

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[1] John XIX:36

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