The sons of Martha

THE SONS OF MARTHA

The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part;

But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful

soul and the troubled heart.

And because she lost her temper once, and because she was

rude to the Lord her Guest,

Her Sons must wait upon Mary’s Sons, world without end,

reprieve, or rest.

It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and cushion the shock.

It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that the switches lock.

It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to

embark and entrain,

Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main.

They say to mountains, «Be ye removed.» They say to the

lesser floods, «Вe dry.»

Under their rods are the rocks reproved - they are not

afraid of that which is high.

Then do the hill-tops shake to the summit - then is the

bed of the deep laid bare,

That the Sons of Mary may overcome it, pleasantly sleeping and unaware.

They finger death at their gloves' end where they piece and

repiece the living wires.

He rears against the gates they tend: they feed him hungry

behind their fires.

And hale him forth like a haltered steer, and goad and turn

him till evenfall.

To these from birth is Belief forbidden; from these till death is Relief afar.

They are concerned with matters hidden - under the

earthline their altars are -

The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to

restore to the mouth,

And gather the floods as in a cup, and pour them again at a city's drouth.

They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little

before the nuts work loose.

They do not teach that His Pity allows them to drop their

job when they dam’-well choose.

As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and

the desert they stand,

Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren’s days

may be long in the land.

Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path more fair or flat -

Lo, it is black already with blood some Son of Martha spilled for that!

Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness to any creed,

But simple service simply given to his own kind in their common need.

And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessed - they know

the Angels are on their side.

They know in them is the Grace confessed, and for them

are the Mercies multiplied.

truly the Promise runs.

They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and - the Lord

He lays it on Martha’s Sons!