The salt of the earth are those who weep

Chris Ofili - No Woman No Cry, 1998

A poem written on the day the church remembers Margery Kempe, mystic c1440.

The salt of the earth are those who weep;
Tears rolling back towards the clay.
Crying because no words can say
What’s written on their hearts.

Teardrops for new possibilities
Or a future that could have been.
Crying out in agony
Or empathy at painful scenes.

Tears of a last goodbye
Or the first glimpse of new life.
Teardrops at a first step
Or a last throw of the dice.

Tears of shock or of surprise
Or disappointment at yet more lies.
Weeping silently, unseen
Or wailing loudly, with red eyes.

Tears of joy, a pause in time
a ray of hope; a light that shines.

Tears of regret when breaking up
Or of relief when waking up.

Welling up from memories past
Worried that these thoughts won’t last.

Crying at a coming out
Weeping at a welcome back.

Tears rolling for repentance,
and flowing in forgiveness.

Tears at the graveside,
garden
and the cross.

Jesus
wept
.

Today the church remembers Margery Kempe, a fourteenth century Christian mystic. Her writings (set down by a series of scribes because she could not read or write herself) were rediscovered in the 1930’s and described her life and her religious experiences, which included many visions.

Margery Kempe is known particularly for her spiritual tears - her crying and wailing were viewed with suspicion by many including those in the church. Questioned by the Archbishop of York who asked “Why do you weep so, woman”, she replied “Sir, you shall wish some day that you had wept as sorely as I.” 

(Image : Chris Ofili, No Woman No Cry, 1998)