Miriam

Soft noiseless gentle footsteps of the one
Who bore the spotless Lamb of God approached.
His mother, Miriam, came to see her Son
To offer what she could for her offspring.
With broken voice and loving tender heart
Rendered with sorrow as was prophesied
By Simeon, true servant anointed
By Yahweh’s Spirit, who had foretold of
The sword to pierce the soul of she who bore
The Saviour of the world, now spoke to Him:
“My Son, my firstborn, what I feared I see
Before my pierc-ed heart and weeping eyes.
You are the source of human righteousness
And destiny, yet how I wish that I
Could hold you and remove all suffering
In my maternal soothing loving arms.
My darling Son, the pain and suffering
Which you cannot but help to endure here,
I feel in my own heart, yet I do know
That this is what Yahweh has willed, yet such
Is my sorrow to see you lifted up
Held captive in the bonds of human sin
Which you bear willingly yet subject to
Merciless torment, no respite at all.
Stretched out are you, your arms that will receive
All those who in true faith will come to you
For their salvation, liberation from
The jaws of death which threaten human souls
To cheat them from their true inheritance.
This hour must pass, yet heavy is my heart
To see you darling Son in this torment.
My strength is waning, yet do I give thanks
To Yahweh God, His will be done, not mine.”
The Lamb of God, despite His agony
Moved was He by the love that was outpoured
By mother gentle, spoke He unto her:
“Dear Woman, gentle mother, how I know
From early days your love to me and all
Our loves, yet only you and John and all
Our kindred close and other loving souls
Behold me in my hour of agony.
Take strength from me, this suffering of mine
Will pass, and with it sin’s long endless night
To make way for Our kingdom bright as day.
Yet let my disciple, the one I love
Take care of you and keep you safe for I
Must do the will of Him who sent me to
Salvation bring to humankind, go with
Beloved John, behold him now, your son.”
And to His disciple, he said these words:
Behold your mother, take her to your home
Where she may live in safety, much have I
Yet to fulfil despite my suffering.
Take care of her, I charge you, and she will
A mother be to you in future days.”
Disciple John, responding to the Lamb
Of God, gave utterance in gentle words:
“Rabbi, it grieves me to the heart to see
Such torture, pain and anguish that you must
For all our sakes accept and undergo.
I cannot intervene to save you from
Cruel injustice for this is the will
Of Yahweh God for you and humankind.
I take your mother to my home to dwell
Where comfort sweet will wipe away her tears
Mine also by her solace good and kind.
And we will be as kindred spirits thus
In bonds of friendship, love and charity”.
In true obedience to the Lamb of God
Disciple John took Miriam unto
His home to comfort her in this dark hour
And solace offer, and she unto him
In bonds of love and friendship evermore
In purity of heart and soul and mind
And strength, as would befit love of the Lord.