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 removèd.' They say to the lesser floods
'Be dry.'
Under their rods are the rocks reprovèd--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 rend: they feed him hungry behind
their fires.
Early at dawn, ere men see clear, they stumble into his terrible
stall,
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 earth-line 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The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to restore to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 leave their work when
they damn-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 blessèd--they know the angels are
on their side.
They know in them is the Grace confessèd, and for them are the
Mercies multiplied.
They sit at the Feet--they hear the Word--they see how truly the
Promise runs:
They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and--the Lord He lays it
on Martha's Sons!