VARIATIONS

Views from our holiday cabin or nearby, over a few days

VARIATIONS: JOSEPH

A

i

He found a man in whom his heart could trust

Who would accomplish each detail of the work;

Joseph was he to whom all men could turn  

He could supply the answer to their wants;

And so he named him as Saviour of the World.

ii

As made perfect through suffering,

Suitable in every detail,

Holy, harmless and undefiled,

Tested and tempted in all things,

He has encountered the darkness,

The Leader of our Salvation.

iii

See, it sinks in red splendour,

Invading the sovereignty of darkness;

See, it departs into the winter,

Leaving earth in its barrenness.

It comes, the morning looms,

Night's shroud is torn;

It comes, the summer brims,

Saved by its healing power.

B

i

Pullulations of plants, actions

Of animals,expenditure

Of energy   all source themselves

On one centre of light and heat:

Hyssop and cedar, ant and man

Sustained in sap or blood, flowing

Because of one emanation.

ii

Thus all the people found a man:

"Go to Joseph" was the king's counsel.

The great administration flowed

From the granaries his wisdom had built.

By this foresight, and this organisation,

He acquired the name "Sustainer of Life".

iii

The Originator of Life having been killed

Out of that death whose power could not hold Him

Issues the life we dwell in now as His.

Death has no claim on those who are His kin;

The darkest tomb His victory has lit;

He holds death's keys and leads us out to bliss.

C

i

And how did Abel know how

To offer righteously? How did Enoch understand

How to please God? How did Abraham see

Christ's day? Or how did Moses judge

What was the reproach of Christ? Faith

Was their secret: by it they looked forward to

Christ, Leader and Completer of Faith.

ii

Whence is the joy that stirs these people's lives

As if a harvest had filled them with delight?

What power has risen to obviate decline

And all the forces that caused them to divide?

Those walking in the darkness have seen a light;

Those dwelling in death's shadow have seen one shine.

iii

After the time of concealment,

Necessary famine, or gloom,

His delight was to let them know

Himself, his love and his supplies:

Greater than all of secret dreams

These were what designated him

As the Revealer of Secrets.