Sunday, March 27, 2016

Eastering again and again . . .


Servant Girl at Emmaus
by Vela'zquez
 The Servant Girl at Emmaus
 (A Painting by Velázquez)


She listens, listens, holding
 her breath. Surely that voice
 is his—the one
 who had looked at her, once, across the crowd,
 as no one ever had looked?
 Had seen her? Had spoken as if to her?


Surely those hands were his,
 taking the platter of bread from hers just now?
 Hands he'd laid on the dying and made them well?


Surely that face—?

The man they'd crucified for sedition and blasphemy.
 The man whose body disappeared from its tomb.
 The man it was rumored now some women had seen this morning, alive?


Those who had brought this stranger home to their table
 don't recognize yet with whom they sit.
 But she in the kitchen, absently touching
            the winejug she's to take in,
 a young Black servant intently listening,


swings round and sees
 the light around him
 and is sure.


Denise Levertov (1923–1997)

No comments:

Post a Comment