This poem was published in December 1993 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church's Community Christmas Festival

Had Mary Known


Thou didst create all earthly things with such exquisite skill
The bird on wing, the fish at sea, the green upon the hill
So many shapes and colors seen, so many textures fine
Of leaf and stem, of bark and limb, with ne’r repeated line.
Why did You bend to bless mere man with such a world as this
And risk it all into his hands to keep or use amiss?
How could You give a perfect world into a human hand
And let him choose to disobey or yield to Your command?
This selfish knave You freedom gave and made him free to choose.
He disobeyed and turned away and everything did lose.

Your lovingkindness formed a plan by which You could forgive,
You came down from your throne above and here on earth did live;
You laid aside Your royal robes and took a wrap of skin,
A virgin’s womb is where You chose your earth life to begin.
And born You were in a stable dim upon a bed of straw,
The angels sang, the heavens rang and shepherds watched in awe.

In time you grew to be a man and lived Your life – the best.
Though Satan tried to temp You sore, You never failed a test.
Had Mary Your sweet Mother known when You were in her womb
That someday on a cross You’d die, be buried in a tomb,
Would she have kept You to herself and hidden You from view?
From eyes of kings and wise men who came to worship You?
No. She reflected on that night the words to her were spoken,
Her son would die to save mankind, and her heart would be broken.
Though once upon a cross You hung to pay the price for sin,
The time of your return is near. You’re coming back again.

Alice M. Scott
June 16, 1990