THIS WAY WENT MARY

THIS WAY WENT MARY

This way went Mary down from Nazareth

into the hearts of men : with simple grace

kissing the quick tears from a child’s small face;

sweeping her cottage clean; each eager breath

lyric with joy; wearing love’s shibboleth

bravely within her young heart’s cloistered place,

knowing its subtle potency to trace

upon the spirit anguish deep as death.

A woman’s heart is pitiful and tender,

quickened with strength too beautiful to tell;

into lone place of your soul, a slender

white peace will creep – her peace, no wind can quell;

and you shall know her love’s most delicate splendour –

when the last lark takes heaven’s blue citadel.

Sister M Thérèse SDS

Now there is Beauty.  1940

Used with permission