‘Martha’: A Poem by Scharlie Meeuws

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Martha

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the
work by myself? Tell her to help me!” —Martha, Luke 10

In Jericho, the house was washed in white,
Where roses climbed around each windowpane.
The scent of baking drifted through the night,
And laughter rose, then gently fell again.

Martha, with care, prepared a humble dish—
The tail of fish with herbs and wine to pour.
She served Him food, fulfilling every wish,
Her hands and heart worn through by love and chore.

He leaned upon the wall, serene and still,
While Mary listened, eyes upon His face.
Her silence full of trust, her gaze His will—
She held His words as sacred, full of grace.

But Martha, tired, served quietly alone,
Her feet were sore, her spirit stretched and thin.
She hoped the Master, seeing what was done,
Might see the greatness, that she held within—

Yet all His praise went only Mary’s way,
Her listening heart, her faith, her silent art.
No words for Martha, no warm glance to stay
The ache that rose and pressed against her heart.

She left the room, weighed down by love unmet,
And sought the quiet, far from candle’s glow.
The roses bowed with dew as if in debt—
Their scent as soft as words she could not show.

She breathed them in, and still He seemed so near,
As though His voice was folded in the air.
And breathing out, she let go of her fear,
And with her breath, she said a silent prayer.

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Scharlie Meeuws, a poet born in Germany, began writing at a young age. She studied in Spain and France, writing poems in Spanish and French before settling in England, where she co-owns Thorntons Bookshop, the oldest in Oxford. Scharlie’s poetry has been featured in magazines and anthologies, including the Guardian. Her work was recognized by Nobel Prize winner Vicente Aleixandre. A member of internet writing sites, her poems have garnered awards and a large following, with over 165,000 readers. Her most recent book is The Emotional Robot and Other Poems.