The Little Sister of the Prophet / Marjorie Pickthall

The Little Sister of the Prophet
"If there arise among you a prophet or dreamer. . ."

I have left a basket of dates In the cool dark room that is under the vine, Some curds set out in two little crimson plates And a flask of the amber wine, And cakes most cunningly beaten Of savoury herbs, and spice, and the delicate wheaten Flour that is best, And all to lighten his spirit and sweeten his rest.

This morning he cried, "Awake, And see what the wonderful grace of the Lord hath revealed!" And we ran for his sake, But 'twas only the dawn outspread o'er our father's field, And the house of the potter white in the valley below. But his hands were upraised to the east and he cried to us, "So Ye may ponder and read The strength and the beauty of God outrolled in a fiery screed!"

Then the little brown mother smiled, As one does on the words of a well-loved child, And, "Son," she replied, "have the oxen been watered and fed? For work is to do, though the skies be never so red, And already the first sweet hours of the day are spent." And he sighed, and went.

Will he come from the byre With his head all misty with dreams, and his eyes on fire, Shaking us all with the weight of the words of his passion? I will give him raisins instead of dates, And wreathe young leaves on the little red plates. I will put on my new head-tyre, And braid my hair in a comelier fashion. Will he note? Will he mind? Will he touch my cheek as he used to, and laugh and be kind?