After the Birth of Jesus..

This is the final selection for

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

and my Christmas poem for 2016

ANOTHER SILENT NIGHT

My friend Holly (who has a special

affinity with all things Christmas)

once gave me a picture

of Mary at the crib of Jesus—

She said the image of Mary

reminded her of one of my daughters

I framed the picture

and hung it on the wall

not because of any resemblance

to my daughter, but

because I was moved

by the striking look of anguish

upon Mary’s lovely face

This had to have been the day

Mary and Joseph went to the temple

to dedicate Jesus, the day

they offered two turtledoves

as a sacrifice for their firstborn son

Simeon was present when they came in

and knew immediately

by the power of the Holy Spirit

that this Child was

God’s promised Savior

He told Mary—

A sword will pierce your soul!

This silent night in Bethlehem

as Jesus lay sleeping

Mary lifts his tiny hand

to her trembling lips

She wonders about God’s marvelous plan

wonders how a Savior saves

and as she wonders, she feels

the point of an unseen sword

pressing against her flesh—

What did that wise old man mean?

There’s so much I do not know—

So much I do not want to know

tonight

Maude Carolan Pych

A Poem About Simeon & Anna

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Well, today is Christmas Day...

Merry Christmas!

I have one more poem of the season, to share tomorrow.

Image credit: Ana-freebibleimages.org

Image credit: Simeon-deliveredbygrace.com

SIMEON & ANNA

Simeon wondered

if he were seeing things

He rubbed his tired old eyes

squinted and peered again

at the little family

that came through the Temple doors

The Sanctuary

was shadowy and dim

Flames from the oil lamps

were flickering—

Were his eyes playing tricks?

Wasn’t this an ordinary family?

…a couple like any

ordinary Jewish couple

here to present their firstborn son

holy to the Lord?

Nothing special about them

Just poor folk

with two lowly turtledoves

for the sacrifice…yet?

Perhaps this was wishful thinking

Perhaps, his imagination

He needed to be sure

Simeon moved a bit closer

Oh, he’d been waiting so patiently

for the fulfillment of the promise

of the Lord to comfort Israel

He knew He would—

for the Holy Spirit

assured him

he absolutely would not die

until he beheld the Messiah

…but that was long ago

Suddenly an unmistakable quickening

began rising up in his spirit…Yes!

…O Glory! Glory!

He bounded

toward Mary and Joseph

with arms outstretched

and swooped up

their swaddled infant son

uttering prophetic proclamations

jubilant and terrifying

I behold God’s salvation!

A light to the Gentiles

The glory of God’s people Israel

and directly to Mary, he prophesied:

…a sword will pierce your soul

She shuddered…

for she knew God had a plan, but…

What could this mean?

Then the widow Anna approached

Bent and grey and pious

she was a prophetess

who dwelled in the Temple

most of her life, praying

fasting and serving the Lord

with a joyful heart

Spontaneous praise

sprang from her lips

as she beheld the babe

Then Anna proclaimed

to all who would listen:

Come and see…

This is our newborn redeemer!

…from that day forward

Jesus grew

in wisdom and grace

the Cross before Him…

…and a sword did pierce

Mary’s soul

Maude Carolan Pych

"We've Been Waiting for a Savior..."

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE

HAPPY HANUKKAH

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Image credit: wrensworld.com

THE BABY NEXT DOOR

I saw him the other day

the baby boy who lives next door

His parents are poor Hebrews, like we are

He’s swaddled the same way we swaddle our babies

and he cries and coos just like our babies do, yet—

the brightest star I’ve ever seen

shines down upon him every night

and shepherds have left their fields

just to take a look at him

exclaiming all the while

about angels singing in the sky

Really? Angels in the sky—

One day I saw wisemen from afar

dressed in finery, ride in on camels

They were bearing costly gifts to honor him

and actually bowed prostrate

before his little cradle

I met his mother at the well, yesterday

Her name is Miriam (Mary)

She told me they’ve named him, Yeshua (Jesus)

Yeshua is a fine name. It means savior

Savior. We’ve been waiting for a savior—

Hmmmmm…

Maude Carolan Pych

A Christmas Poem for Children

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas


The following poem was written
to be read to children on Christmas Eve...

Image credit: amazon.com

‘TWAS THE NIGHT…OF ALL NIGHTS!

Children, gather round. It’s time for a story,

one that’s filled with hallelujahs and glory.

It’s about the glorious night of all nights,

angels and magi and sight of all sights!

About God, a virgin, the birth of a king,

wooly sheep, poor shepherds and gift giving!

My story takes place long ago, far away

and starts with a Babe in a crib full of hay;

His mother’s a virgin, His father is God,

the birth, a miraculous Heavenly nod.

The Baby is born in a Bethlehem barn

near a few smelly animals, like on a farm.

Poor shepherds in a field shudder with fright

when suddenly the dark sky fills up with light

as beautiful angels, bright splendors winging

tell of the birth with hallelujahs and singing!

So, the shepherds and sheep the very next morn

set off to visit this special Newborn.

Rich wisemen follow a bright beaming star

to the Bethlehem barn; the journey is far.

They ride astride camels, carrying treasures

to give to the One they’ll worship forever.

Why in the world would they do such strange things?

Why travel so far? Why great treasures bring?

The reason is simple, the Babe in the hay

becomes the world’s Savior, Who takes sin away.

His name is Jesus and He loves you and me

and wants us to love Him for eternity.

That was the night of all nights here on Earth…

the wonderful story of Jesus’ birth!

Maude Carolan Pych

Remembering Bethlehem...

In 1986, I made my first pilgrimage to Israel

on tour with Wayne Monbleau of the "Let's Talk About Jesus" radio ministry.

By the Threshing Floor of Boaz at the Shepherd's Field in Bethlehem

we sang with zealous hearts

every Christmas carol that we knew

as we watched the sun go down over the quaint little town.

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Image credit: rcia.org.uk

A BETHLEHEM MEMORY

O little town of Bethlehem

how still we see thee lie

from the wheat field of Boaz

this pleasant mid-spring night

A zealous band of pilgrims

tracing footsteps of The Lord –

with hearts ablaze to praise

One so worthy to be adored

We huddle at the circular

stone threshing floor for wheat

with eyes fixed on the little town

so Christmas tableau sweet

We look around for shepherds

as the sun is going down

while to the strumming of guitar

we lift the joyful sound

of our voices unto Heaven

to give our gift of song…

Every carol that we know

is offered by this throng

The evening is so glorious

we do not want to leave –

Our dinners may be getting cold

but here our spirits cleave

The darkness slowly deepens

as dim starlights appear…

twilight glows with hymn-song

while in reverie we veer

back to the old, old stories

of the night of Holy Birth

Each of us is enthralled by

this blessed bit of earth

In the distance, the townsfolk

begin to light their lights

for the routine of living

in this very awesome site

We wonder, do they ever kneel

to kiss the hallowed ground

where they spend their everydays?

Do the amber fields resound

with ecstatic jubilation?

Do stars shoot sparks of praise

for the glorious Gift given

that precious day of days?

O little town of Bethlehem…

this night we’ll greatly treasure

Echoes of carols, memories

will remain forever

Pure joy overflows our hearts

for Bethlehem’s Babe, Our Lord

was born here to save sinners…

Jesus, Savior of the World!

Maude Carolan

Gifts...Wanted & Unwanted

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo credit: youtube.com

IT WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS

“Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly

lights, who does not change like shifting

shadows.” James 1:17

Perhaps it was a vision

or at least a vivid imagining…

It was like Christmas!

There was a great heap of presents

of various sizes,

gaily wrapped,

tied with streaming ribbons

and lustrous bows,

each with a gift tag

that bore my name.

Some presents

had already been opened,

wrappings strewn, white tissue awry,

others, wonderfully enticing,

were yet to be unwrapped.

In my spirit I knew

they were gifts of God,

the spiritual blessings

of my life.

The open ones

represented gifts already acquired.

Some bedazzled,

those, the granted yearnings

of the prayers of my heart,

others were blessings also

though never sought in prayer,

still others were gifts

I never wanted,

gifts I’d have preferred

to return or exchange.

In time I understood

each was perfect,

selected by the Source

of all wisdom

with me alone in mind,

loving graces

spiritually working in me

creating the me

I am becoming in Him.

I look to the future

anticipating

wondrous gifts

still unopened.

Maude Carolan

We Gather with Our Loved Ones

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Image credit: techblogstop.com

HOLIDAY HOMECOMING

She smiled as she dusted

the ceramic crèche

on the old oak credenza,

sang as she swept the kitchen floor,

even Lysoled the bathroom bowl

with effervescence.

Humming a Yuletide carol, the woman

rolled pastry into a thin rectangle

and cut cookies into shapes

of stars and angels and lambs.

Spontaneous praise proceeded from her lips  

as she stuffed the twenty pound turkey,

trussed it tidily,

rubbed it with butter and sage

and lifted it into the moderate oven.

She dressed the table with china and silver,

the slightly yellowed table linen

stored in her mother’s cedar chest,

and a silvery bowl of pink poinsettias

bought at the flower sale at church.

Her feet ached, but her eyes sparkled.

This was among life’s highest joys:

Her adult children would soon be at the door

bringing presents, hugs and laughter

and she would get to serve them Christmas dinner.

Maude Carolan

Coping With Loss at Christmastime

Sometimes Christmas can be difficult...

The following poem was written after the death of my husband, Leo F. Carolan, 
in 2004. 

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Image credit: barbarah.wordpress.com

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU

Wrote my annual Christmas poem

and sent it out as usual

well aware that anyone who didn't already know

would know even before they opened it

as soon as they saw the return address label

with just my name on it—

Included your photograph

and a few words about your passing

baby photos of Logan and Aiden

and a few words about God taketh and giveth

Shopped, pretty much as usual

except, of course, that a significant gift

was missing from my list

I gift wrapped and set up the crèche

and a few decorations

baked cookies—

shortbread, chippers

anise biscotti, sugar cookie stars

Packed tins to mail

and give and have on hand

I'd glance at the empty chair

and miss you sitting there, smiling

as I rolled out dough

and sang O Holy Night way off key

Received lots of cards

and lots of notes and phone calls

from people stunned

by the news in my letter

Beth and Evert invited me to spend

the day before Christmas Eve with them

before they flew to Miami

with Logan to visit Evert's mom

On Christmas Eve I went to Beth Israel

to celebrate the birth of Messiah

Gave Pastor Jonathan his tin of cookies

then headed south on the Parkway

after midnight so I could be

at Kristin and Randy's in time

to see Aiden's eyes light up his first

Christmas morning

Over the next few days

I visited my sister and brother

Aunt Carol and friends

Kevin and Omayra invited me

to spend a quiet New Year's Eve

Tearless, pensive, I lifted a glass

to ring out the old, ring in new

I slept in the guest-room

We sat around the table in our bathrobes

New Year's Day morning, eating

buttered panetone with glazed chestnuts

We drove to The City to see a play

ate in a deli that charged holiday prices

and toured Ground Zero on foot

then

it was over

I got through it

without going to pieces

Maude Carolan

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