"Come, sit by me, weary Traveler,
And tell me the life you've led.
Tell me the reason you wander,"
The Man at the table said.
The Traveler stood by the wayside,
And, lifting the burden he wore,
He seemed to stop and consider...
Then chose to open the door.
He joined the Man at the table,
And started to tell of his woes.
"My life has been one of sorrow,
Marked by the sins of my foes."
The Traveler stopped in his story,
And looked to the Man's smiling face.
"I've also caused many a sorrow;
I claim many a sin and disgrace."
Just then came a Daughter of Mourning,
And stopped by the table, fair.
"Ah, Daughter!" the Man called in greeting,
"In preparing I've taken great care!"
"I see," replied the Daughter,
"But there's no way you'd want me here.
I've sat at many a table,
And been sent from all, I fear."
"O, but Daughter! This one is different!"
The Man at the table declared.
The Daughter thought he was crazy
As he stooped to pull out a chair.
"Now this is our weary Traveler,"
The Man at the table said.
"And this is our Daughter of Mourning,"
He claimed as she dropped her head.
Down came a Child of Sorrow,
And stopped by the table there.
"O, come and feast, my dear Child!
For you are noble and fair!"
The Child stood and remembered
All the times he had cried in the night.
And, turning, he paused to consider...
Was this the way to the light?
"Come, and sit at my table,"
The Man whispered softly and kind.
"Choose to eat of my rations,
And peace and refuge you'll find."
The Child then took his respite,
And the Man called to each of the souls,
"Choose ye this day to eat with me,
And find yourselves made whole.
"O, Daughter! See how I love you!
For even for you have I died!
And Traveler, know just how happy
It makes me to sit by your side.
"And Child, please do remember!
For even your tears I've cried.
See, even in your darkest hour,
I never once left your side."
The Daughter became one of Morning,
And the Traveler's strength was renewed;
As for the Child of Sorrow,
His demons were forever subdued.
At last the Man stood above them
And dropped the cape which he wore.
His face was gloriously brightened,
And a crown on his head he bore.
"How could you have made such an offer,
That we should dine with a King?
But no mind; all of the ages,
We'll always thy praises sing!"
This came from the Daughter of Morning,
Who started a holy song,
And then the three of the rescued
Joined in with the angel throng.
October 2016
Dedicated to the Traveler who inspired this one, and the Daughter of Morning who has meant so much to me. And also, to one weary soul who, walking along a lonely gravel path one foggy morning, inspired the very first lines of this rhyme.
