SETTING UP THE MANGER SCENE
A
few snowflakes drift in wintry air
as
I carry the carton down the stairs
and
unwrap the antique fragile things—
a
manger, some camels and three kings.
I set
them on the polished tabletop,
being careful not to chip or drop
them
as I do. Sheep and shepherd men
are
arranged as entering Bethlehem.
An
angel, gilded, with one chipped wing
is
affixed above; her place to sing.
There’s
a cow and donkey, nibbling straw,
Joseph,
kneeling, with a look of awe
and
Mary, new at being mother
gazing
adoringly at none other
than
her swaddled, holy, infant Son…
Jesus,
Our Savior, on day one.
As
I move each figure, to its place,
I
call upon God’s loving grace…
pray
each who stand before my manger,
to
Jesus, will never be a stranger.
May
this heirloom crèche, made long ago
recall
the event that sets hearts aglow.
May
He be for them, as He’s been for me—
Sweet Love …
for now
and through eternity.
Maude
Carolan Pych
I hand-painted my ceramic Nativity scene in 1965 and have been setting it up every Christmas since.
This poem appears in "From My Heart to Yours at Christmas...Cookies & Poems". If you would like to order the 32 page booklet, send a check for $7.00 plus $1.00 p&h made out to Maude Carolan Pych to P.O. Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424.
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