Sunday, December 18, 2016

The First Christmas Presents

The Poetry & Music event at the ANT Bookstore & Cafe in Clifton, yesterday, was outstanding! The featured poetry, the music, the open, the festive treats and the wonderful holiday spirit in the room was filled with joy and goodwill toward men. Thank you to James Gwyn & Victoria Warne for arranging the event. Thank you to Pastor EJ Emerson and Sister Jane Abeln, SMIC, for reading along with me. Thank you to Maria Esteves for videotaping. Thank you to all who came to enjoy the festivities. It was, indeed, an evening to remember!

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo credit: doxologi.com



THE GIFT BEARERS

Cosmic wonders, whats and whys
whirl in the East
as a singular mysterious luminary
beckons in the heavens
Is it brighter than the other stars?
Does it pulsate? Does it bounce?
Does it shoot across the sky
like a flame-tailed comet?
Does its lustrous splendor
rival the glow of the moon?

Gentile magi who study stars and Scripture
see it and curiously mount their camels
to follow it across the desert. But, why?
They say they are seeking
the King of the Jews. Why would they?
They say they want to worship Him
Why Him?
What do they know that the High Priest
the Pharisees, Sadducees
and all the Jews of Jerusalem
who are awaiting the coming of Messiah
do not comprehend?

King Herod summons them, diabolically
Feigns sincere interest in their mission
urges them to return with details
so he, too, may worship the King
A sinister plot forms in his evil mind
for even he knows…
there is something about that star…

Continuing on
the irresistible starlight shines ahead
until it shimmers above a humble house
in the village of Bethlehem
It stops, still…absolutely still
The magi realize they are at
destiny's door
They knock
and are welcomed, when

Suddenly
their eyes behold
a Boy Child
and their hearts leap!!!

and whether it makes sense or not
(whether any of this makes sense or not)
the magi, in rich array
fall prostrate
on the earthen floor
and fill the little house
with hallelujahs!!!

They draw from their saddlebags, treasures…
          Gold…for surely this little family can use it
          Myrrh…fragrant foreshadow of suffering
          Frankincense…for a sensing in the depths
          of their God-given wisdom
          of a significant anointing
          somewhere in time

Mission complete
the gift bearers mount their camels
and still attentive to God's spirit
(this time in a dream)
do not return to Herod

The magi…
diligent seekers who found
Treasure
infinitely more valuable
than the precious gifts they bore

Maude Carolan Pych

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