| |
| THE LORD of life among them rests; | |
| They quaff the merry wine; | |
| They do not know, those wedding guests, | |
| The present power divine. | |
| |
| Believe, on such a group he smiled, | 5 |
| Though he might sigh the while; | |
| Believe not, sweet-souled Mary’s child | |
| Was born without a smile. | |
| |
| He saw the pitchers high upturned, | |
| The last red drops to pour; | 10 |
| His mother’s cheek with triumph burned, | |
| And expectation wore. | |
| |
| He knew the prayer her bosom housed, | |
| He read it in her eyes; | |
| Her hopes in him sad thoughts have roused | 15 |
| Before her words arise. | |
| |
| “They have no wine,” her shy lips said, | |
| With prayer but half begun; | |
| Her eyes went on, “Lift up Thy head, | |
| Show what thou art, my son!” | 20 |
| |
| A vision rose before his eyes, | |
| The cross, the waiting tomb, | |
| The people’s rage, the darkened skies, | |
| His unavoided doom. | |
| |
| “Ah woman-heart! what end is set | 25 |
| Common to thee and me? | |
| My hour of honour is not yet,— | |
| ’Twill come too soon for thee.” | |
| |
| The word was dark; the tone was kind; | |
| His heart the mother knew; | 30 |
| And still his eyes more sweetly shined, | |
| His voice more gentle grew. | |
| |
| Another, on the word intent, | |
| Had heard refusal there; | |
| His mother heard a full consent, | 35 |
| A sweetly answer’d prayer. | |
| |
| “Whate’er he saith unto you, do.” | |
| Fast flowed the grapes divine; | |
| Though then, as now, not many knew | |
| Who made the water wine. | 40 |
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