the beauty
the radiance
the peace
were they there?
Mary
heavy, bulky
child with child,
travelling at term
no padded wagon
just a stubborn pack animal
no backrest
no hot coffee to go
long days
in the cold
in humiliation
to the ancestral home
family friends waiting?
ahh, no room for her.
rejection
discomfort
uncertainty
a dirty stable
fatigue
labor pains
no midwife
no mother to reassure
just an inexperienced man
Joseph
obedient
dutiful
useless arguing with God.
not his plan.
not his child.
not his way.
no friends no family
no proud cigars
the butt of jokes.
really God?
an indifferent town
and
an unpadded stable
failure.
a smelly place
animal droppings
cold hard noisy
no chair no bed
a trough for a bassinet
scratchy straw
poking in blankets
animals snorting
no hot water
no nurses
no hospital corners
no mirrors
no sink
no toothbrush
no lip gloss
a small, wet baby
pushed out the usual way
who helped?
who cut the cord?
who taught Mary to nurse?
who cleaned it up?
strange visitors
shepherds kings angels
gold, frankincense and myrhh
but still
no room service
no diaper service
no rest
scary dreams
warnings
running away in the night
soldiers slashing
babies dying
mothers crying
tragedy.
Her Baby
alive
safe
hope
can you feel it?
surviving
singing
anyway.
in the mess.
rejoice
rejoice
Immanuel
has come to thee
O mourning Israel
hope.
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