The Magi Came From Afar...

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Image credit: pinterest.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

 Tomorrow, tomorrow…

I’ll be reading holiday poetry

with a few good friends

at The Ant Bookstore & Café

345 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ

Saturday, December 15, 7 p.m.

Sr. Jane Abeln, SMIC

Pastor EJ Emerson

Maude Carolan Pych

Barbara Williams-Hubbard

COME JOIN US

for a festive evening

of poetry, music & homemade Christmas cookies!

Admission is free