Evelyn Underhill had the kind of experiences with poverty first through the eyes of the Christian mystics. In 1918, Underhill wrote a number of poems in a book called "Immanence". At this point in her life she had already written her classical book, "Mysticism" and was on the tail end of the platonic influence in her thought and beginning to move toward a more Christian way of thinking. In this book of poems she wrote a poem called "Lady Poverty". In it she seems to point out the difference in one perspective over another on the issue of poverty.
THE LADY POVERTY
I met her on the Umbrian hills :
Her hair unbound, her feet unshod.
As one whom secret glory fills
She walked, alone with God.
I met her in the city street :
Oh, changed was her aspect then !
With heavy eyes and weary feet
She walked alone, with men.
In Underhill's book on Mysticism, she did a great deal of study on the saints, many of whom took vows of poverty and I suppose that this could be the inspiration for this particular poem. The perspective seems to be between what the "Umbrian Hills" and the "City Streets" has to say about poverty. Generally speaking the Umbrian hills were known to have great influence on high culture with its art, beautiful landscape and connection with the Franciscan Order. Opposite of the hills are the busy streets of the city where focus seems to reside in productivity, lack of time and tunnel vision. It is between these two views that poverty is either loved or lost.
Assisi, the home of St. Francis and the development of the Fransiscan Order, was located in the Umbrian Hills. St. Francis had a great deal of influence in loving the poor, the interesting thing about this poem is that it draws upon the vow of poverty, a vow of his order, which promises to put others in need first before all materialism or consumerism. So as poverty moves through the Umbrian Hills of Italy we see that it is likened unto a woman with her hair down and feet uncovered walking freely with dignity and in the company of God. In fact, it not just that poverty is dressed up to look better or feel better about itself, but is viewed as more important and worthy of one's attention. The Bible says, When were you [Jesus] naked, in need of drink and cold without a blanket because we would have surely served you, Jesus responds with whenever you served even the least of society you served me directly. It is with great conviction in Jesus that the poverty issue, a broken part of society, is one that should never be ignored. God walks with poverty!
Conversely, poverty can be found in the city streets where the poor are relegated to one city block and it is illegal to be homeless. The city seems to be more taxing on the poor. As she roams the streets she is described to have "heavy eyes and weary feet". There is no rest in the city. I suppose that the clash comes at the end, when poverty meets a philosophy of life that doesn't include the poor. When she walked through the city, it seems that she is forgotten, probably ignored. We see that instead of viewing poverty as an issue close to the heart of God, she walks "alone" and though there are people around, there isn't any comfort from them.
I personally know many who have little compassion on the poor. I pray that it is just a lack of experience with poverty, nevertheless it is a brokeness that needs attention. The command to "Love one another" also includes those who are dirty, smell bad and don't look like many of us and it is with this heart that Underhill pens the poem. The Kingdom of God on earth is about loving God and loving people, try serving the poor before complaining about their presence. Uncomfortable, right?