Poem May 4, 1963 Issue

SO CLOSE TO LOVE

Bernice King Brigham

So close to Love he walked,
No rebuke in his words.
"Woman, what have I to do with thee?
Mine hour is not yet come,"
In Cana of Galilee
When Jesus turned the water into wine;
Did he not say, much as a modern son
Might say in gentle tone,
"O Mother, wait. I'm not quite ready"?
Yet Mary must have known, and seen
In Jesus' youth and childhood
Many of his works,
And more wonders than we dream of,
Keeping them in her heart
In pride, and in sorrow
For the brevity
Of that human relationship;
And he who knew so well
Love's infinite care of its own,
That loving son.
Long before the crucifixion
Would he not have planned for his mother?
And his words on the cross
Relinquishing last of all this tender human tie
Perhaps were just reminding John,
For only John records them.
Of what had been arranged
Before that day.
"Woman, behold thy son"—
And to John,
"Behold thy mother."