Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MESSENGER, by MARJORIE THORN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MESSENGER, by                    
First Line: She sipped her canton tea
Last Line: And song-birds flying.)
Subject(s): Death; Strangers; Dead, The


She sipped her Canton tea
From the wild rose cup,
Read a little while,
Then took her mending up.

While she sat and sewed,
Contented, slowly rocking,
Like any other day,
A stranger came a-knocking.

A fair-faced boy he seemed,
In white robes dressed.
With gentle courtesy
She asked him in to rest.

"I haven't time to stay,"
He said, and gazed at her
Till suddenly she knew
The Master's Messenger.

"Now?" she whispered bravely,
"Must I go today?
I'd like to tidy up
And give some things away."

"That is not allowed.
All your time is up.
Leave your mending box,
Leave your wild rose cup."

So she had to go.
Wistful lips were steady.
That some day had come,
And she wasn't ready.

(Leaving dreams unfinished,
Leaving work undone,
Leaving things we love
For the unknown,

That is all we know
Of the change called dying.
Farewell to the sun,
And song-birds flying.)





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