The Look

THE LOOK
By Doris Meakim

We had kindled a fire in the courtyard
for the morning was foggy and cold,
and we stood and were warmed while we waited
for some sort of news to be told.
And there came a stranger among us
with a fisherman's coat, and a sword,
and I made him for Galilean
as soon as he uttered a word.

So I asked, were you this man's disciple?
angrily he replied "No!"
And others asked the same question:
"You were seen with Him that much is so."
You could tell that the fellow was frightened;
to deny and declare he began
"I was not, I was not I tell you!
I never have known this man!"

So -- I started to turn away from him.
(It was nothing to me either way)
and I turned to look up at the Prisoner
as the rooster sang out for the day.
And I saw -- what I saw! -- in that moment
as the Prisoner turned toward the door.
He looked -- O He looked at the stranger !
And I'll see that look evermore.

Well, at once the fellow was weeping
as he fled. Just a moment it took.
But for all of my life I shall always
and always remember that look.
There was love, oh such depths of love in it
and compassion and pardon as well,
In the midst of His own bitter hour,
In His own encounter with hell.

That look has pierced through my spirit.
Those eyes I forever shall see!
And the cry of my heart was oh Jesus.
Oh look with such pardon on me!