Classic Poem

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
Be it unto me as thy word,”—
So spake in accents low and sweet
The humblest heart that ever beat.
Nor would the Blessèd Spirit come
And make a temple of her womb,
Nor to His yoke her spirit bow,
Nor in her God's designs fulfil,
Until His gently breathed “Wilt thou?”
Was answered by her meek “I will.”

The vigils of the Church were past;
The heavenly day-spring dawn'd at last;
But everlasting ages wait
And knock at time's reluctant gate,
Till God with man on earth shall dwell,
Incarnate Love, Emmanuel:
For all Redemption's issues hung
Upon the words of lowly faith,
Which falter'd on the trembling tongue
Of that pure maid of Nazareth.

Be still, my heart: no fears could move
The counsels of eternal love.
Be still: the trouble pass'd away,
Like clouds that melt at break of day;
And, as the angel spake of things
Beyond her soul's imaginings,
The words of self-surrender fell
From lips of one supremely blest,
Who half her rapture could not tell,
But knew her Father's will was best.

And it was best. What bliss like hers
The heart of mother ever stirs;
The union in her Infant's birth
Of loftiest heaven and lowliest earth?
Or who before her ever smiled,
Confiding, on a sinless Child?
No film to stain the stream of joy
That from its crystal fountain ran,
While in her home the perfect Boy
Grew up into the perfect Man.

Her Father's will was best; though she,
Who drank that cup of ecstasy,
In bitterness of heart must drain
The dregs of agonizing pain,—
Her tender bosom deeply gored
By stabs of sorrow's piercing sword,—
When by the cruel Cross she stood,
Where all her hopes were crucified;
And sprinkled with His dying blood
In spirit with her Saviour died.

But Easter morning breaks ere long
To welcomes of celestial song,
And softer human melodies
Swell the high triumph of the skies:
And is not hers the sweetest note
Of all the strains that heavenward float?
If none like sorrowing love must weep,
No hymns like love's joy-anthems flow:
Lord, grant us in Thy bliss to reap
Seeds steep'd and sown in tears below.