THE MOTHER

THE mother by the gallows-tree,

The gallows-tree, the gallows-tree,

( While the twitching body mocked the sun )

Lifted to Heaven her broken heart

And called for sympathy.

Then Mother Mary bent to her,

Bent from her place by God's left side,

And whispered: “Peace — do I not know?—

My son was crucified!”

“O Mother Mary,” answered she,

“You cannot, cannot enter in

To my soul's woe — you cannot know —

For your son wrought no sin!”

( And men whose work compelled them there,

Their hearts were stricken dead;

They heard the rope creak on the beam;

I thought I heard the frightened ghost

Whimpering overhead. )

The mother by the gallows-tree,

The gallows-tree, the gallows-tree,

Lifted to Christ her broken heart

And called in agony.

Then Lord Christ bent to her and said:

“Be comforted, be comforted;

I know your grief; the whole world's woe

I bore upon my head.”

“But O Lord Christ, you cannot know,

No one can know,” she said, “no one” —

( While the quivering corpse swayed in the wind ) —

“Lord Christ, no one can understand

Who never had a son!”