Marcella Marie Holloway

Prizewinning playwright and poet, Holloway did her doctoral thesis on Gerard Manley Hopkins, who remained the focus of her scholarly publications. Professor of English at various colleges, she was a Roman Catholic nun of the Sisters of St. Joseph since 1932 and died at age 89 in 2003.

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Rhyme

You take a risk when you invite the Lord
Whether to dine or talk the afternoon  A
Away, for always the unexpected soon  A
Turns up: a woman breaks her precious nard,
A sinner does the task you should assume,  B
A leper who is cleansed must show his proof:
Suddenly you see your very roof removed
And a cripple clutters up your living room.  B

There's no telling what to expect when Christ
Walks in your door. The table set for four  C
Must often be enlarged and decorum
Thrown to the wind. It's His voice that calls them
And it's no use to bolt and bar the door:  C
His kingdom knows no bounds of roof, or wall, or floor.  C

Near-Rhyme

You take a risk when you invite the Lord
Whether to dine or talk the afternoon
Away, for always the unexpected soon
Turns up: a woman breaks her precious nard,
A sinner does the task you should assume,
A leper who is cleansed must show his proof:
Suddenly you see your very roof removed
And a cripple clutters up your living room.

There's no telling what to expect when Christ
Walks in your door. The table set for four
Must often be enlarged and decorum
Thrown to the wind. It's His voice that calls them
And it's no use to bolt and bar the door:
His kingdom knows no bounds of roof, or wall, or floor.

Rhythm

You take | a risk | when you | invite | the Lord
Whether | to dine | or talk | the aft- | ernoon
Away, for always the unexpected soon
Turns up: a woman breaks her precious nard,
A sinner does the task you should assume,
A leper who is cleansed must show his proof:
Suddenly you see your very roof removed
And a cripple clutters up your living room.

There's no telling what to expect when Christ
Walks in your door. The table set for four
Must often be enlarged and decorum
Thrown to the wind. It's His voice that calls them
And it's no use to bolt and bar the door:
His kingdom knows no bounds of roof, or wall, or floor.

Sounds

You take a risk when you invite the Lord
Whether to dine or talk the afternoon
Away, for always the unexpected soon
Turns up: a woman breaks her precious nard,
A sinner does the task you should assume,
A leper who is cleansed must show his proof:
Suddenly you see your very roof removed
And a cripple clutters up your living room.

There's no telling what to expect when Christ
Walks in your door. The table set for four
Must often be enlarged and decorum
Thrown to the wind. It's His voice that calls them
And it's no use to bolt and bar the door:
His kingdom knows no bounds of roof, or wall, or floor.

Theme

• Juxtaposes Christ's visits with strangers
• Inviting Christ into our lives is inviting the other