At Bethany Before the Passover

Six days before the feast, the evening came,
To Bethany, where death had loosed its claim;
Where Lazarus, once bound in grave's cold keep,
Now sat with Christ who woke him from his sleep.

The house was warm, with Martha's faithful care,
The scent of bread and oil perfumed the air.
Then Mary came — her alabaster broke,
And love, more rare than speech, in silence spoke.

She poured the nard upon his weary feet,
And wiped them with her hair, so pure, so sweet;
The fragrance filled the house — a holy flame,
That marked her worship more than wealth or name.

Then Judas spoke, with coin upon his mind,
"Why waste this cost? The poor are left behind."
Yet Christ, who knew the heart from false disguise,
Said softly, "Let her gift before me rise.

She keeps this for the day I'm laid in clay;
The poor you'll have, but I will pass away."
Thus love anointed life's approaching end —
And loss was crowned by grace none could defend.

based on: https://biblehub.com/kjv/john/12.htm