A Poem for the Season of Epiphany

Manifestations and Epiphanies

                    

Exotic wise men see a star manifest in the sky

Gold bring as if expecting to see a king’s rod

Frankincense an aroma worthy to worship a God

But also myrrh a fragrance for one born to die

A child staying not left behind in the temple

Parents’ discovery and their sudden terror

What is his thinking that explains his error

What – my Father’s business – it is that simple.

Honey, locusts, camel hairs but what is this

What need has this one for Jordan’s waters

Or is this for Israel’s sons and daughters

A dove, a heavenly voice, signs not to miss

From the beginning, a man and a bride

No wine, cheap family dishonors guests

My son can you do anything for this mess

Water to wine  for love I will provide

A broken leper wishes to be made clean

This requires the touch of a kind and gentle hand

A soldier says you needn’t leave where you stand

And left his miracle done even when unseen

A garden with the good seed hidden in weeds

The gardener sees his seed so fragile and weak

says Let my seed the sun and rain seek

At harvest good seed will be seen in good deeds

Manifestations we have seen so to him we do now refer

Others with lesser signs like vultures will pluck and take

Sun and moon Joseph’s dream heaven’s order to shake

So we await one more Epiphany our hearts to stir

 

A poem of sorts based on the Gospel readings of Epiphany and the six weeks of Epiphany in the Book of Common Prayer, 1662 and 1928 versions