The Savior is Born!

 And now, the final poem in this series:

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Simeon

SIMEON & ANNA

 

Simeon wondered

if he were seeing things

He rubbed his tired old eyes

squinted and peered again

at the little family

that came through the Temple doors

 

The Sanctuary

was shadowy and dim

Flames from the oil lamps

were flickering—

Were his eyes playing tricks?

 

Wasn’t this an ordinary family?

…a couple like any

ordinary Jewish couple

here to present their firstborn son

holy to the Lord?

 

Nothing special about them

Just poor folk

with two lowly turtledoves

for the sacrifice…yet?

 

Perhaps this was wishful thinking

Perhaps, his imagination

He needed to be sure

Simeon moved a bit closer

 

Oh, he’d been waiting so patiently

for the fulfillment of the promise

of the Lord to comfort Israel

 

He knew He would—

for the Holy Spirit

assured him

he absolutely would not die

until he beheld the Messiah

…but that was long ago

 

Suddenly an unmistakable quickening

began rising up in his spirit…Yes!

…O Glory! Glory!

 

He bounded

toward Mary and Joseph

with arms outstretched

and swooped up

their swaddled infant son

uttering prophetic proclamations

jubilant and terrifying

 

I behold God’s salvation!

 

A light to the Gentiles

 

The glory of God’s people Israel

 

and directly to Mary, he prophesied:

 

…a sword will pierce your soul

 

She shuddered…

for she knew God had a plan, but…

What could this mean?

 

Then the widow Anna approached

Bent and grey and pious

she was a prophetess

who dwelled in the Temple

most of her life, praying

fasting and serving the Lord

with a joyful heart

 

Spontaneous praise

sprang from her lips

as she beheld the babe

Then Anna proclaimed

to all who would listen:

 

Come and see…

This is our newborn redeemer!

 

…from that day forward

Jesus grew

in wisdom and grace

 

the Cross before Him…

 

…and a sword did pierce

Mary’s soul

 

Maude Carolan Pych

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

 Poems about the Birth, Death & Resurrection of Jesus

by Maude Carolan Pych

Published by Elm Hill,

is available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, etc.

Website: www.maudecarolanpych.net

Email: maudecpych@gmail.com

Jesus, Our Messiah, is Born...

A Blessed Christmas to All!

 

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Shepherd and sheep in Bethlehem, Israel.

 

A BETHLEHEM MEMORY

Israel Pilgrimage II, May 1987

 

O little town of Bethlehem

how still we see thee lie

from the wheat field of Boaz

this pleasant mid-spring night

 

A zealous band of pilgrims

tracing footsteps of the Lord –

with hearts ablaze to praise

One so worthy to be adored

 

We huddle at the circular

stone threshing floor for wheat

with eyes fixed on the little town

so Christmas tableau sweet

 

We look around for shepherds

as the sun is going down

while to the strumming of guitar

we lift the joyful sound

 

of our voices unto Heaven

to give our gift of song…

Every carol that we know

is offered by the throng

 

The evening is so glorious

we do not want to leave –

Our dinners may be getting cold

but here our spirits cleave

 

The darkness slowly deepens

as dim starlights appear…

twilight glows with hymn-song

while in reverie we veer

 

back to the old, old stories

of the night of Holy Birth

Each of us is enthralled by

this blessed bit of earth

 

In the distance, the townsfolk

begin to light their lights

for the routine of living

in this simply awesome site

 

We wonder, do they ever kneel

to kiss the hallowed ground

where they spend their everydays?

Do the amber fields resound

 

with ecstatic jubilation?

Do stars shoot sparks of praise

for the glorious Gift given

that precious day of days?

 

O little town of Bethlehem…

this night we’ll always treasure

Echoes of carols, memories

will remain forever

 

Pure joy overflows our hearts

for Bethlehem’s Babe, Our Lord

was born here to save sinners…

Jesus, Savior of the World!

 

Maude Carolan

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

by Maude Carolan Pych

Published by Elm Hill,

is available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, etc.

Website: www.maudecarolanpych.net

Email: maudecpych@gmail.com

 

Threshing floor, Bethlehem

Image credit:  slideplayer.com

A BETHLEHEM MEMORY

Israel Pilgrimage II, May 1987

 

O little town of Bethlehem

how still we see thee lie

from the wheat field of Boaz

this pleasant mid-spring night

 

A zealous band of pilgrims

tracing footsteps of the Lord –

with hearts ablaze to praise

One so worthy to be adored

 

We huddle at the circular

stone threshing floor for wheat

with eyes fixed on the little town

so Christmas tableau sweet

 

We look around for shepherds

as the sun is going down

while to the strumming of guitar

we lift the joyful sound

 

of our voices unto Heaven

to give our gift of song…

Every carol that we know

is offered by the throng

 

The evening is so glorious

we do not want to leave –

Our dinners may be getting cold

but here our spirits cleave

 

The darkness slowly deepens

as dim starlights appear…

twilight glows with hymn-song

while in reverie we veer

 

back to the old, old stories

of the night of Holy Birth

Each of us is enthralled by

this blessed bit of earth

 

In the distance, the townsfolk

begin to light their lights

for the routine of living

in this simply awesome site

 

We wonder, do they ever kneel

to kiss the hallowed ground

where they spend their everydays?

Do the amber fields resound

 

with ecstatic jubilation?

Do stars shoot sparks of praise

for the glorious Gift given

that precious day of days?

 

O little town of Bethlehem…

this night we’ll always treasure

Echoes of carols, memories

will remain forever

 

Pure joy overflows our hearts

for Bethlehem’s Babe, Our Lord

was born here to save sinners…

Jesus, Savior of the World!

 

Maude Carolan

I was excited to find my book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, Woodland Park, NJ. It is also available via my website at www.maudecarolanpych.net & online at Amazon & Barnes & Noble. It's the perfect Christmas gift for those who love the Lord and enjoy poetry.

A Poem About the Shepherds

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Christmas

Image credit: artnet.com

THE SHEPHERDS

Shepherds recline around the fire

Their long day’s work is done

The air is crisp, the sky is clear

they watch the setting sun

The sheep that grazed the fields by day

now safely sleep nearby

Men each take night-watch turns

to watch for wolves and foxes, sly

They eat some fish, some barley bread

drink water from the well

draw woolen blankets ‘round them, snug

they laugh and stories tell

Suddenly the calm is stirred

by singing in the sky

The shepherds lift their drowsy heads

What’s happening and why?

They can’t believe their ears and eyes

for what they hear and see…

a throng of shining faces, wings

snow white and fluttery!

The rugged shepherds tremble

The angels chant, “Do not fear…

We bring you tidings of great joy

all people need to hear

For unto you is born this day

in little Bethlehem—

swaddled in a manger, Christ

the Savior of all men!

Glory to God in the highest!”

sweet angel voices sing

“Peace on earth, goodwill to men”

They proclaim the newborn King!

As the angels take their leave

the men vow in the morn

they’ll go to Bethlehem and seek

the Christ, the newly born

So with the rising of the sun

each with his staff and rod

the shepherds with their sheep set off…

Their quest, the Lamb of God

Arriving at the humble place

the angels sang about

they enter with resounding praise

and hallelujah shouts!

As the shepherds kneel, adoring

a spotless wooly lamb

approaches the lowly manger

and gently nuzzles the I Am

Maude Carolan Pych

"Nothing is Impossible with God!"

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Image credit: nataliesnapp.com

MARY & ELIZABETH

A young virgin

from Nazareth, was roused

by the flapping of wings

a manshape in moonbeams

and a perplexing salutation:

Greetings, favored one!

The Lord is with you

It was Gabriel

an angel sent by God

who told Mary she would conceive

and bear a boy child, Jesus—

the Son of the Most High

He spoke of the Holy Spirit

and overshadowing

and of her relative, Elizabeth

who though barren

conceived in her old age—

for nothing is impossible with God

Awestruck, trembling

needing to tell someone

who did Mary go to first?

Her mother? Father?

How would they receive such news?

Or did she run to her betrothed, Joseph

expecting him to understand?

Oh, he wanted to understand

wanted to believe, but

it was unbelievable, preposterous

So, stunned, disappointed

feeling utterly deceived, Joseph

contemplated quietly sending her away

Then Mary remembered the angel

had spoken of her dear cousin, Elizabeth—

Is that why Mary hurried off

on a brave trek to the hills of Hebron…alone?

Of course, it had to be Elizabeth

aged, wise, expecting

and now acquainted, herself, with miracles

When Mary arrived at the home

of Zacharias and Elizabeth

Elizabeth’s unborn baby

leapt for joy! in her womb

and in a whirl of wondrous ecstasy

Elizabeth knew of Mary’s pregnancy

before being told

…then a psalm-like lilt of praise

sprang from Mary’s lips

extolling the great things

the Mighty One had done for her

Tender were the next three months

as the household awaited Elizabeth’s travail

(and the birth of John, the baptizer)

The women prepared their layettes

folded the swaddling clothes

shared their magnanimous miracles

and confided maternal aspirations

as their bellies swelled

…and I like to think

Joseph ran all the way to Hebron

one day expressly to announce

his own angelic vision in a dream—

that he was to take Mary as his wife

and they would await

the miraculous birth of Jesus—together

Maude Carolan Pych

***ANNOUNCEMENT***

Mark your calendar: The next poetry event will take place Saturday, December 17th, 7 p.m., at the ANT Bookstore & Cafe, 345 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ. I will be joined by two poet/friends, Pastor EJ Emerson and Sister Jane Abeln, SMIC. Holiday music will be provided by Victoria Warne, Peter DiBella, Rikki Woods and Lidya Diaz. An open mic period will follow. Come, enjoy the festivities and the Christmas cookies, too! James Gwyn and Victoria Warne host this popular event on the third Saturday evening of each month.