The poem Don read last night
Gabrielle Dean
(after Rubens: The Adoration of the Magi 1634)
Christopher Pilling (written in about 1982)
It was the arrival of the kings
that caught us unawares;
we’d looked in on the woman in the barn,
curiosity you could call it,
something to do on a cold winter’s night;
we’d wished her well –
that was the best we could do; she was in pain,
and the next thing we knew
she was lying on the straw
- the little there was of it –
and there was this baby in her arms.
It was, as I say, the kings
that caught us unawares….
Women have babies every other day,
not that we are there –
let’s call it a common occurrence though,
giving birth. But kings
appearing in a stable with a
‘Is this the place?’ and kneeling,
each with his gift held out towards the child!
They didn’t even notice us.
Their robes trailed on the floor,
rich, lined robes that money couldn’t buy.
What must this child be
to bring kings from distant lands
with costly incense and gold?
what would a tiny baby make of that?
And what were we to make of
was it angels falling through the air,
entwined and falling as if from the rafters
to where the gaze of the kings met the child’s
- assuming the child could see?
What would the mother do with the gift?
What would become of the child?
And we’ll never admit there are angels
or that somewhere between
one man’s eyes and another’s
is a holy place, a space where a king could be
at one with a naked child
at one with an astonished soldier.
Peter Humphris
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Gabrielle Dean
Thank you, all of you.
Gabby
lia johnson
Lia
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Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:48:08 +0800
Subject: Re: [DiscussSt Pauls:3162] The poem Don read last night
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Kim Kemp
May I add my thanks too for the gift of last night’s service of lessons and carols ..........the readings were perfectly chosen and read by an array of different St Paul’s folk, all bringing their own interpretation and understanding to what they offered............... the choir were wonderfully together in their singing, accompanied by the beautiful Bronwyn, who not only looks like an angel, but makes music that sounds as though it is being sent straight from heaven! I loved the timing which meant that we were being led into the soft light of dusk. It was a joy for me to sit and soak in the ambience, the words and the music..............Thank You.
X Kim
lia johnson
Blessings and love
Lia
mobile 0409 009667
home 9319 9301
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Subject: RE: [DiscussSt Pauls:3168] The poem Don read last night
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:23:19 +0800