| |
| “HE is beside himself.” Dismayed, | |
| His mother, brothers talked: | |
| “He from the well-known path has strayed, | |
| In which our fathers walked.” | |
| |
| And sad at heart, they sought him. Loud | 5 |
| Some one the message bore; | |
| He stands within, amidst a crowd, | |
| They at the open door. | |
| |
| “Thy mother and thy brothers would | |
| Speak with thee. Lo, they stand | 10 |
| Without and wait thee!” Like a flood | |
| Of sunrise on the land, | |
| |
| A new-born light his face o’erspread; | |
| Out from his eyes it poured; | |
| He lifted up that gracious head, | 15 |
| Looked round him, took the word: | |
| |
| “My mother—brothers—who are they?” | |
| Hearest thou, Mary mild? | |
| This is a sound that well may slay— | |
| Disowned by thy child! | 20 |
| |
| Ah, no! My brothers, sisters, hear! | |
| What says our humble lord? | |
| O mother, did it wound thy ear? | |
| We thank him for the word. | |
| |
| “Who are my friends?” Oh! hear him say, | 25 |
| Stretching his hand abroad: | |
| “My mother, sisters, brothers, they | |
| Who do the will of God.” | |
| |
| My brother! Lord of life and me, | |
| If it might come to this! | 30 |
| Ah! brother, sister, that would be | |
| Enough for all amiss. | |
| |
| Yea, hear him, mother, and rejoice: | |
| No better name hath he, | |
| To give us best of all his choice, | 35 |
| Than that he gives to thee. | |
| |
| O humble child, O faithful son! | |
| Of women most forlorn, | |
| She who the Father’s will hath done, | |
| The Son of Man hath borne. | 40 |
| |
| Mary, if in thy coming pain, | |
| Thou to thy Father bow, | |
| The Christ shall be thy son again, | |
| And twice his mother thou. | |
| |
