The Vision passeth. Mary wakes: ah see,
Her body bathed in deadly agony,
Her senses veiled through inwrought sympathy;
When at the door in hurried accents, she
The Sister hears: 'Lo, John, he calleth thee.'
Stands the Beloved Disciple, anxiously
Intent: 'Fear not, O Cousin John,' saith she,
'Lo, I and Cleophas, we go with thee.'
'What sayest thou, O Mother?' gaspeth he.
'It is the law of Justice,' answereth she.
'Thou knowest all?' 'All know I, verily.
The Lamb of God is He that slain shall be;
Despised, rejected, spit upon; and He
For the transgression of mankind, will be
The Victim of the Altar - woe is me.'
Saith John: 'The people gather: they would be
The witness of His Suffering' - 'Then will we
Be near to comfort Him. Am I not she,
His chosen Mother? We will go that we
May share His portion, and His destiny.'
Thus roused from helpless, deep despondency,
The soul revives of that Disciple: she
Hath fired the springs of faith, that generously
Burned in that loving bosom. Thus is she
The Mother of his soul, ere yet had he
Been given her for a Son: and now is she
The leader of his steps to Calvary.
And weeping Magdalen will truly be
Close in attendance by, when she
Shall tread the Via Crucis, dolorously.
There at the Gate of Ephraim stands she
Where He must pass. Bowed 'neath the Cross moves He
Failing and weak and bloodstained. Verily,
Mighty her heart. Yet, mightier far must be
Her will that guides those steps on Calvary.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote