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!