The Kitchen Maid at Emmaus

My little one,

(Luke 24:13-32)

"Behold two of them went that same day

to a village called Em-ma-us,which was

from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

.....and it came to pass while they communed

together,Jesus himself drew, and went with them.

but their eyes were holden that they should not

know him......and they drew nigh unto the village,

Jesus made as though he would have gone  further.

but they constrained him,'abide with us',.....Jesus

went in to tarry with them.......and it came to pass,

as he sat  at meal with them, he took bread, and

blessed it,and brake,and gave to them.and their

eyes were opened,and they knew him;and he 

vanished out of their sight....did not our heart

burn within us,while he talked with us by the way

and while he opened to us the scriptures?"

'My child, my little one, my bride,

how often would I long to  draw

thee ,as a hen would gather  close

her little 'brood'under her wings!

A young Moorish 'kitchen maid',

adorns the 'mundane' tapestry'

a 'mullat' African slave-girl ever,

thy God  among 'the pots' abides!

There she stands 'poised' for service,

her 'trembling' hands,lifts the 'flour,'

the 'dough' pressed' and 'rolled' thus

she 'bakes' the most 'precious' of 'bread'.

O! she places the 'beloved'  of 'bread'

ever so 'gently' on the table spread!

the 'stranger' awaits with so much love

her 'guest' with the two of Em-ma-us road!

Back to the kitchen,her foot-steps draw,

to reach for the 'ceramic pitcher' jug!

the 'grapes' are 'crushed',ever so fine

the 'richest' of the 'wines' for table thus!

She 'holds the 'ceramic pitcher' poised

her left hand coils around the jug firmly

she 'turns' ,a 'flood' of 'light' engulfs her face

arrested, awe-struck, she 'freezes' in 'time'!

She holds her'breath', one moment in 'awe'!

listens! listens! surely that 'voice!',O! voice!

strains her ears,listen!she eavesdrops,leaning!

confirms her suspicion,tis the risen Christ!

T'was the voice,she instantly recognized!

the 'voice' she'd heard in the crowd be

the 'voice' as though for her ears alone

she'd heard it so loud and clear before!

His eyes had looked across at her ,ever

thou hast 'ravished ' me with one'glance'

as though she was the only one in the crowd

one 'moment' frozen in 'time' ever be!

Surely those 'hands' which 'broke' the 'bread'

those 'hands' which 'healed' the sick,the same

now at the table 'brakes' the 'bread' and 'gives'

only now the Em-ma-us two, beholds the 'Christ'!

O! blessed 'kitchen maid',how 'highly favoured'

thou thy blessed 'Lord' behold, how much thou 'loved'

thou thy 'Saviour's' love possessed ever

before the Em-ma-us two ever recognized Him!

Thy 'God' in the midst of the 'kitchen pots',child!

do not thou ever fear man ever in thy life ever!

I am thy God, in the midst of thee, ever and ever

God of the Em-ma-us road,my 'guest' art thou!

Saith thy Lord! thy God! thy King!

In the Garden of Gethsemane

My little one

(Mark 14:32-36)

"And they came to a place

which was called 'Geth-sem'a-ne',

Jesus being in agony, fell on His 'face'

lay himself 'prostrate', on the ground,

His sweat  fell as great drops of 'blood'!,

cried, 'Abba! Father',in Hebrew,'daddy!!!"

'My precious darling little one,

how I long and 'yearn' to hear

thy 'lips' trembling,in awe ever

to 'form' the word 'abba! abba!'

Thy,'daddy',leaps and  bounds,

skipping over the hills,swiftly,

by thy side,in a 'twinkling'eye,

in swift 'embrace',my price ever.

Geth-sem'a-ne ,my 'garden' ever,

pleasent also,my 'bed'ever so green!

there in'agony', fell on my 'face',child

lay 'prostrate',sweet ground,ever for thee!

Thy 'beloved' face to 'behold and keep,

forever to 'behold',thy 'cry' for 'mercy'

my 'mercy' fell as 'sweats' of 'grace'

great drops of 'blood'covered,thy 'life'!

'abba! 'abba!' daddy,my 'father',my cry

for thee alone,the heavens rend and came

the 'veil' was 'torn',the 'heart-rent' cry heard

thy 'ransom',paid,thou in 'mercy' cloaked!

come,my little one,into ,my cloak,

Thy Lord has covered thee in 'seal'

never ever 'fear' thy 'bride-groom' near

I have 'prayed' for thee,thou ever mine!'

The mouth of thy Lord ! thy God! thy King! hath spoken!

Father's Gaze

My little one!

(numbers 6 :24-26)

"The Lord bless thee ,and keep thee,

The Lord make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord 'lift up' his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace!"

'my precious 'darling' child,

thou,my 'little one' ever be

this is my 'everlasting' oath

a' father's' yearning for a child!

Thou will ever be my little one,

how can I ever remove my 'gaze'

forever thou ' engraved' upon my palm,

my 'precious pearl',priceless in time!

Up thou art 'raised' held ever so firm,

for my eye to 'behold' thy face in 'love',

none moment lost in such 'rapt' gaze'

'wrapped', for ever for thy 'father's pleasure!

Up! thou raised, in thy 'father's arms'

O! what a 'joy'thou art to me up there,

my' face' glows a 'halo' upon thy'face'

beloved! 'rest' in my 'grace',lo I am so near!

Saith thy Lord! thy God! thy King!

In the Clefts of the Rock.

My little one,

' O! my dove,my bride thou art,

hidden in the clefts of my wounds,

whose report doest thou 'believe',

believe thou the 'report' of thy Lord?

My 'arm' is 'revealed',my dearest,

the 'moment'thou 'believe',my 'word'

will thou receive,my 'blessing',child,

ever thine to 'behold' thy 'promise land!

behold ,my 'crown of thorns' encircled,

'man of sorrows', grief and pain anon,

my 'visage' so 'marred',faceless for thee,

'sorrow' and 'love' flow  mingled down.

carried all thy 'sorrows',borne thy 'griefs'

my 'soul' poured unto death for thee'

when I passed by thee,I saw thy 'face',

'live',I say in thy  blood,'live',my child!

my,'wounds' and 'bruises' blankets thee'

great drops of 'sweat' fell on the dust,

blood dripped  like showers of rain

'sprinkle',nations,my 'seed' I see ever!.

thou, my dearest 'seed' I see,beloved'

ever before my face I 'behold' ever,

abundance of 'life' receive my child'

as much as thou want take thou ever!

Fear not! fear not! never ever be afraid!

death hath no more  'sting'ever never'

be bold,courageous, seek my strength,

my strength  beholds only thy weakness!

Saith thy Lord! thy God! thy King!

My Dove in the Clefts of the Rock.

My little one

O my dove,that art in the clefts of the rock,

in the secret places of the stairs,

let me see thy countenance,

let me hear thy voice;

for sweet is thy voice,

and thy countenance is comely'

(Song of Solomon:2:14)

'Beloved, my precious little one

I will draw thee 'gently' close

into the clefts of the rock my 'rock'

here I will 'reveal myself,my child'

'my 'wounds' thou behold in the clefts

thus gaze upon thy 'ransom' in full

thine alone my 'atonement' sealed

no foe or demon ever  glimpse into'

'Is there no 'balm' in Gilead, dearest?

believe thou,thy Lord,thy 'rock' ever

cleft for thee,hidden in my 'clefts thou

my 'healing' thou taste,'honey' from the rock'

'Thy Lord hath made bare his holy arm

thine alone the 'pathway'shown,secretly

the secret places of the 'stairways' glimpsed

glimpses of such 'divine'  visions revealed'

'O,my dove,in the clefts of the rock'

in the secret places of the 'stairways' ,

here,thou will,see thy Saviour's love,

did ever such 'love' and 'sorrow' flow'

O,my dove thou didst not blush in the clefts

thy Saviour's visage ever so 'marred' for thee

no beauty to behold ,thou behold in 'awe'

thy bridegroom's face in worship kneeled!'

'Do not be afraid ever,my little one,my bride

in my wounds thou well deeply 'hidden' thou

no serpent,neither circling hawk,nor vulture

know the pathway,within the clefts of the rock!'

'Arise,my bride,shake off the dust,leap thou

I have work for thee,arise and  go forth now

thou shall 'live' for me and me alone,my dove

in the land of the 'living' thou shall 'reign ever!'

The mouth of thy Lord thy God thy King declares!!! 

Through the Lattice.

                Jesus Looking through a Lattice

"When Tissot first debuted his series in Paris in 1894, he preceded the earliest narrative scenes with this mysterious image of Jesus peering through a delicate screen. The artist provided the following verse from the Song of Solomon to accompany this unusual composition: “Behold, he [the beloved] standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through a lattice.”

As scholars have noted, the vines heavy with fruit and the sunflowers—traditional Christian symbols—sprout before or climb the thick stone wall. While the grapes evoke the rite of Communion, the bright yellow flowers, which grow toward the sun, suggest Christ’s followers, who turn faithfully to him.

This image of a partially hidden figure also suggests Tissot’s mission in painting the series: through his careful archaeological, anthropological, and historical researches at home and abroad, he sought to reveal the “true” Christ, who had been obscured, he asserted, by the “fancies” of successive centuries of artists."

Excerpt taken from Brooklyn Museum.Org Collections: European Art: Jesus Looking through a Lattice (Jésus regardant à travers le treillis) 

My little one,

"My beloved is like a roe or a young hart:

behold,he standeth behind our wall,

he looketh forth at the windows,

shewing himself through the lattice"

(Song of Solomon 2:9)

"beloved,my only precious one

will thou believe my report now

only believe,my 'arm' thou will see

verily! verily! I say unto thee.

Swiftly as a'gazelle'by thy side

as a young 'deer' pants  for water

my 'brooks' of 'living waters' thine

only ask thou in 'prayer' for ever

If only thou would tear down

thy 'walls' remove thy 'veil',my dove

behold,let me see thy face,so dear

'face' to 'face' to touch and 'heal'

it hurts so much,if thy 'veil'is on

behold I stand behind thy 'veil"

thy 'veil' removed my 'glory' thine

forever thine,my 'favour'  blossom.

Glimpses of 'face'thou shalt see

my eyes ever upon thee never cease

ever 'peers' deeply at thy windows

ever 'shewing' through the 'lattice'

thus how much is my love for thee

never 'fear' even once,my precious

I cant take my eyes off thee ever

thou engraved upon my heart ever!

thou take the 'bread' and the 'wine'

thine the 'holy' communion cherish

this my 'body' 'broken' for thee alone

this my 'blood' covenant ransom be!

Glimpses of thy beloved  thou see

shewing himself through the 'lattice'

ever 'peering' never ceasing glances

to behold thou 'break' my 'bread'ever!

Saith thy Lord ! thy God! thy King!

The Rose of Sharon.

my little one

"I am the rose of Sharon

and the lily of the valley

as the lily among thorns

so is my love....daughters"

Thine for ever beloved one

rose and the lily pledge be

sweet fragrance thine alone

my breath so precious sealed

Behold the thorns so cruel be

the briars so thick and rich be

'ravished ' by thy eyes so deep

'Yonder lily' mine among thorns

My arm reached forth for my gem

my precious 'lily' among the thorns

bruised and pricked thus wounded

drew thee gently upon my breast

Petals white with drops of blood

visage marred beyond faceless be

this thy 'ransom' paid in fullness

atonement sealed thou my queen

Thy 'Maker' and thy 'Husband' be

my head 'compose' a crown so rich

crimson 'red' my 'blood' was shed

thou my 'lily' white as the 'snow'

"though your sins be crimson red

they shall be white as snow be

though they be as scarlet my child

they shall be made as white as wool"

Saith thy Lord thy God thy King

the mouth of the Lord hath spoken!--