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Mary
—a sequel to “Martha,” prompted by James A. Tweedie
The night grew still, the lamps gave off a hush,
And Martha’s footsteps faded down the hall.
The coals were low, the herbs gave one last flush –
Their fragrance lingered barely there at all.
Then Mary rose, her hands clasped near her chest,
And knelt beside the One she knew as true.
She bowed her head, her voice a shy protest:
“Lord, do You see the love in what she’d do?
She serves not less in kneading, pouring, flame,
Her silence speaks in bread and in the cup.
She gives her heart each time she speaks my name—
It’s she who taught me how to lift it up.”
He smiled, and in His look, a quiet light,
More gentle than the hush before a storm.
“She, too, has chosen well, though out of sight,
Her labour, love; her giving, just as warm.
I do not weigh their ways on earthly scales,
The listening soul, the soul that toils and tends.
Both offer gold, both write their tender tales,
Each sister’s path draws near to noble ends.”
The olive leaves outside began to stir,
As if the night had breathed a softened word.
And Mary knew He saw the heart in her,
And in her sister, whom her silence heard.
The sisters met beneath the olive tree,
Their hands entwined, the dusk upon their hair.
No need for words, just grace in unity,
Two hearts made whole within the evening air.
The house behind still echoed with His voice,
But now it pulsed within their quiet bond.
Each had been called, in action or in choice,
And both had moved in love and far beyond.
One bore the bowl, the other bore the flame,
Each mirror to the other’s sacred role.
The work, the word – divided but the same,
Twin rivers flowing toward a single soul.
For love remembers every woven thread,
The hidden tears, the loaves that rose unseen.
No gift was missed, no prayer was left unsaid,
The space between them, hallowed and serene.
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Scharlie Meeuws, a poet born in Germany, began writing at a young age. She studied in Spain and France, writing poems in Spanish and French before settling in England, where she co-owns Thorntons Bookshop, the oldest in Oxford. Scharlie’s poetry has been featured in magazines and anthologies, including the Guardian. Her work was recognized by Nobel Prize winner Vicente Aleixandre. Her most recent book is The Emotional Robot and Other Poems. Her poetry book Outbranching was published by Cerasus, London in 2021 and is available on Amazon.
Beautiful sequel, Scharlie! You have a God given gift of great sensitivity for matters of the heart and soul. I cherish both your poems.
Dear Roy,
I feel touched by your comment. Thank you so much. I hope readers will connect with the Bible story of Martha and Mary, which I always thought of as highly interesting. The dilemma of jealousy should be seen from all sides and discussed. Thanks to Mr. Tweedie’s prompting this poem arose….
Absolutely lovely, Scharlie! “Martha” and “Mary” are a pair to keep together, but this sequel goes far beyond the beauty of the earlier one, in feeling as well as in length. You imagine Mary as feeling her sister’s disappointment, and addressing the Lord they both adore, to bring forth an explanation of great warmth and sensitivity. Both poems use imagination to reflect on God’s word in the Gospel, but come across as if they could indeed have been added by the evangelist. And I would say they have no flavor of modernist theology or psychology to water down the authentic considerations of love offered. We might find similar words in writings of a saintly superior instructing a group of nuns, or even in writings of exegetes commenting on this very passage, to tell why Mary’s is “the better part,” while Martha’s choice is valued as much.
Dear Margaret,
Thank you for adding your thoughts to my poem. I sense a deep understanding from you and fell happy to meet a sensitive and sincere soul across the ocean, who understands…..
Scharlie, I am honored to have my name associated with this poem. Of interest to me is how your two poems, “Mary” and “Martha” recall the statues of Leah and Rachel that stand to the right and left of Michelangelo’s sculpture of David. These two remarkable and sadly neglected statues (thought to have been completed by Michelangelo’s studio—whereas I, however, see in them the hand of the Master, himself) highlight and give meaning and context to the greater subject of Moses which they frame.
In a similar way, your two masterful poems give meaning and context to the greater (and largely unspoken) subject of Christ which they frame and to whom they point.
I used the word “exquisite” to describe your earlier effort. It also applies here to its sequel.
Well done, indeed.
(On a minor note, it appears that the word “left” was inadvertently dropped from the next-to-last line of the poem.)
I typed David instead of Moses. Oops. Should be Moses!
Dear James,
I was anxiously awaiting your comment. And here it is! I’m so glad you appreciate my poem and you point out, of course, to the source, Jesus the Lord, who did indeed say that Mary chose the better. He referred to her choice to prioritise learning from Him over practical tasks. He is highlighting the importance of prioritising spiritual growth over worldly activities, not saying that serving others is unimportant, but that spending time learning from Him is of greater value. Someone suggested for me doing another poem about Jesus, but I leave this for others, or maybe, just promote reading this multilayered Bible Story again and listen to His words…..
Thank you for pointing out the dropped “ left” which by now has been edited!
I, too, love your description of your imagined thoughts and feelings of Mary. The biblical account has always had interest for me as well; I’m not especially fond of being in the kitchen, so I personally identify as Mary; yet I feel for Martha’s frustration as well (I can imagine having to take on the kitchen role when no-one else is going to do it). But I also love your consistent descriptions of the visual and palpable atmosphere here: lamps giving off a hush; fragrances lingering; the night breathing a softened word. Beautiful writing!
Dear Cynthia,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about my poem. I am always enjoying my reader’s feedbacks, as they often lead to further ideas and challenges….
A lovely poem, Scharlie, and I imagine a satisfying one to all we Marthas out here. I am considering sending both your poems to our Priests who are both wonderfully suited to their “callings”.