Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HOME-COMING, by KATHARINE LEE BATES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The roman net grips land and sea Last Line: Of a young jew crucified? Subject(s): Christianity; Homecoming | ||||||||
The Roman net grips land and sea, Roman hearts are stones, And on many a hill of Galilee Shudders the bitter felon tree, Whose fruit cries out and moans. "Set forth the supper," bade Joseph; "Is not the day far spent?" Weary he came from his workshop, His heavy shoulders bent. One daughter spread the rich-hued mat And brought the wooden tray; Another poured water on his hands From a cruse of tawny clay; Another fetched the stoup of wine And the thin round cakes of bread, The dish of herbs and the cheeses, And after the prayer was said James and Joses and Simon Around the tray with him Sat on the floor like Arabs, While Juda ran to trim The lamp and see that the floating Wick on the oil burned clean, For he might not sit with the men-folk Till his years had touched thirteen. But our Lady Mary tarried, Leaning out over the sill Of the door till she heard the steps she loved Climbing Nazareth hill. "Welcome, my Ever-Truant, My Slip-away-under-the-Stars! Have you brought me fresh rose-laurel For the mouths of our water-jars?" But the face of the world's desire Was pale as a poplar leaf; The young face framed in the open door Was wan and wild as never before, A face acquainted with grief. "You are long away," quoth Joseph, But his tone might not condemn The firstborn son of his household, Remembering Bethlehem; "We have labored from dawn to even With many a fruitless wish For our master-carver, yet sit at board And dip your hand in the dish." Still Jesus stood in the doorway, His eyes dark pools of pain; Muffled in purple cloak, he seemed The shadow of a dream that dreamed Divinely and in vain. His sisters drew off his sandals And washed and dried his feet, While his touch on their bowed heads blessed them For their service deft and sweet. "There is blood on his sleeve," cried Simon, But Joses laughed: "Such flings The knife when it cuts a creature's throat. He has chanced on the slaying of sheep or goat, He who sickens at common things." "Nay!" chided James, upspringing, Leal Brother of our Lord; "He has met the men of Herod the Fox, Hunting the rebels from out their rocks. O Galilee under the sword!" "Have they hurt you?" sobbed little Juda, "Hurt you whom the smallest bird Will not flutter away from?" But Jesus Answered never a word. How could Love find speech for the horror No beauty should henceforth hide? How could Pity forevermore forget Those feet he had kissed, still red and wet, Of a young Jew crucified? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMING HOME AT TWILIGHT IN LATE SUMMER by JANE KENYON THE NEGATIVES by PHILIP LEVINE THE WATER'S CHANT by PHILIP LEVINE THE EXILE'S RETURN by ROBERT LOWELL THE RETURN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TAKING THE TRAIN HOME by WILLIAM MATTHEWS I SHALL RETURN by CLAUDE MCKAY AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE FIRST VOYAGE OF JOHN CABOT [1497] by KATHARINE LEE BATES |
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