A Meditation of St. Eligius + 

Queen Mary one day Jesus sent + 

To fetch some water, legends tell; + 

The little boy, obedient, + 

Drew a full pitcher from the well; + 

But as he raised it to his head, + 

The water lipping with the rim, + 

The handle broke, and all was shed + 

Upon the stones about the brim. + 

His cloak upon the ground he laid + 

And in it gathered up the pool; + 

Obedient there the water stayed, + 

And home he bore it plentiful. + 

Eligius said, “ ’Tis fabled ill: + 

The hands that all the world control, + 

Had here been room for miracle, + 

Had made his mother’s pitcher whole! + 

“Still, some few drops for thirsty need + 

A poor invention even, when told + 

In love of thee the Truth indeed, + 

Like broken pitcher yet may hold: + 

“Thy truth, alas, Lord, once I spilt: + 

I thought to bear the pitcher high; + 

Upon the shining stones of guilt + 

I slipped, and there the potsherds lie! + 

“ ‘Master,’ I cried, ‘no man will drink, + 

No human thirst will e’er be stilled + 

Through me, who sit upon the brink, + 

My pitcher broke, thy water spilled!’ + 

“ ‘What will they do I waiting left? + 

They looked to me to bring thy law! + 

The well is deep, and, sin-bereft, + 

I nothing have wherewith to draw!’ ” + 

“But as I sat in evil plight, + 

With dry parched heart and sickened brain, + 

Uprose in me the water bright, + 

Thou gavest me thyself again!” + 