The Poetry of Edna Baron

They said, “The Master is

coming

To honour the town to-day,

And none can tell at whose

house or home

The Master will choose to stay”.

And I thought, while my heart

beat wildly,

What if He should come to mine,

How could I strive to entertain

or honour this Guest Divine?

 

So straightway I turned to

toiling,

To make my home more neat,

I swept & polished & dusted

And decked it with blossoms

sweet,

I was troubled for fear the

Master

Should come, ere my task was

done,

So I hastened & worked the

faster

And watched the hurrying sun.

But right in the midst of my

duties

A woman came to my door.

She had come to tell me her

troubles,

and my comfort & aid to

implore.

But I said, “Oh, I cannot

listen or help you any to-day.

I have greater things to

attend to,

And the pleader went away.

 

Soon after, there came another,

a cripple, thin, pale & grey,

Who said “Oh, please let me

stop awhile,

And rest in your home I pray,

I have travelled far since

morning,

I am hungry & faint & weak,

And my heart is full of longing,

For comfort & help, I seek.”

 

But I said “No, I cannot

listen or help you any to-day.

I look for a great & noble

guest”

So the cripple went sadly

away.
And the day wore onward swiftly.

My tasks were nearly done,

And the prayer was ever in my

heart.

 

I thought “How I’ll spring to

meet Him,

And serve Him with tenderest

care,

When, just then, a little

child stood by me,

With a face so sweet & fair.

Sweet, but with marks of

teardrops,

And clothes that were tattered

and old.

A finger was bruised & bleeding,

And His little bare feet were

cold.

 

“Oh! I’m sorry for you”, I said,

“you are surely in need of care,

But I cannot stop to give it,

You must hasten on elsewhere.”

As I spoke to him, a shadow

swept over his blue-veined brow.

“Someone will feed & clothe you”,

I said,

“But I’m too busy now”.

 

At last the day had ended,

My work was over & done.

My house was swept & polished

And I watched in the dusk,

alone.

Watched, but no footfall sounded,

Nobody paused at my gate,

No-one entered my cottage door,

I could only pray, – and wait.

 

At length the night had deepened,

And the Master had not come.

“He has entered some other door”

I cried,

“And has gladdened some other

home”.

My labours had been for nothing,

My heart was full of bitterness,

Yet, in spite of it all –

I slept.

 

Then the Master stood before me,

With a face so grave & fair.

“Three times”, he said, “I came

to your door,

And begged your pity & care.

“Three times you sent me onward,

unhelped & uncomforted,

And the blessing you might have

had, is lost,

And the chance to serve, has

fled.

 

 

“Oh Lord, dear Lord, forgive

me”, I cried,

“How could I know it was Thee”.