The Carpenter (1914)
The breath of pine arose as scentFrom shavings on the floor;
The azure of the firmament
Shone in the open door. The sound of hammer and of saw
Made music in the room ;
There labour was a lovely law,
Like beauty or perfume. The hand that fashioned, sure and fine,
The fragrant wood of earth
Could trace with starry fire divine
The things of higher worth. For he from selfish aim was free,
Unswayed by care or fret,
Who learned to master destiny
In quiet Nazareth ! Edward Wilbur Mason, in "The Craftsman." Notes From the Queensland Newspaper The Queensland Times 13 Jun 1914 p. 6. Masons and Carpenters and other builders often saw a connection with their skilled work and the more ancient work of Jesus of Nazareth. Much later Woody Guthrie and Ewan MacColl would write songs that cast Jesus as a poor working man who was under constant attack by powerful and corrupt forces.