Spiritual Sunday
I just stumbled on this lovely Denise Levertov poem about the Emmaus dinner, inspired by a Diego Velazquez. Sometimes entitled The Kitchen Servant, sometimes The Servant Girl at Emmaus, it is striking because it focuses, on the waiting maid rather than Jesus and the disciples, whom one can see in the background. Often our way into sacred stories is through incidental characters, who are easier to relate to.
I’ve posted in the past about Levertov’s magnificent poem about Doubting Thomas. This witness has no doubts.
The Servant Girl at Emmaus
(A Painting by Velázquez)She listens, listens, holding
her breath. Surely that voice
is his—the one
who had looked at her, once, across the crowd,
as no one ever had looked?
Had seen her? Had spoken as if to her?Surely those hands were his,
taking the platter of bread from hers just now?
Hands he’d laid on the dying and made them well?Surely that face—?
The man they’d crucified for sedition and blasphemy.
The man whose body disappeared from its tomb.
The man it was rumored now some women had seen this morning, alive?Those who had brought this stranger home to their table
don’t recognize yet with whom they sit.
But she in the kitchen, absently touching
the winejug she’s to take in,
a young Black servant intently listening,swings round and sees
the light around him
and is sure.