 | Complete Poems of Frances E. W. Harper |  |
3
THE SYROPHENICIAN WOMAN
Joy to my bosom! rest to my fear!
Judea's prophet draweth near!
Joy to my bosom! peace to my heart!
Sickness and sorrow before him depart!
Judea's prophet draweth near!
Joy to my bosom! peace to my heart!
Sickness and sorrow before him depart!
Rack'd with agony and pain,
Writhing, long my child has lain;
Now the prophet draweth near,
All our griefs shall disappear.
Writhing, long my child has lain;
Now the prophet draweth near,
All our griefs shall disappear.
“Lord!” she cried with mournful breath,
“Save! Oh, save my child from death!”
But as though she was unheard,
Jesus answered not a word.
“Save! Oh, save my child from death!”
But as though she was unheard,
Jesus answered not a word.
With a purpose naught could move,
And the seal of woman's love,
Down she knelt in anguish wild—
“Master! save, Oh! save my child!”
And the seal of woman's love,
Down she knelt in anguish wild—
“Master! save, Oh! save my child!”
“'Tis not meet,” the Savior said,
“Thus to waste the children's bread;
I am only sent to seek
Israel's lost and scattered sheep.”
“Thus to waste the children's bread;
I am only sent to seek
Israel's lost and scattered sheep.”
“True,” she said, “Oh, gracious Lord,
True and faithful is thy word:
But the humblest, meanest, may
Eat the crumbs they cast away.”
True and faithful is thy word:
But the humblest, meanest, may
Eat the crumbs they cast away.”
“Woman,” said th' astonish'd Lord,
“Be it even as thy word!
By thy faith that knows no fail,
Thou hast ask'd, and shalt prevail.”
“Be it even as thy word!
By thy faith that knows no fail,
Thou hast ask'd, and shalt prevail.”
| Complete Poems of Frances E. W. Harper | |