Sunday, January 12, 2014

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

1 comment:

Bob TOohey said...

Well Don. I enjoyed this. Thank You,