COMING ONE

(Mary)
A paean,
Eruption of soul and spirit,
Touching the King.

(Zacharias)

Bursting from silence

I prophesy the Coming One,
The Day Spring.

(Joseph)
Stolid, a craftsman, why
Choose me as trustee of
The Holy Thing?

(Magi)
Though the weather cuts
And stones abrade,
Nettles and thorns sting

We glory in our pilgrimage
More than in ease
Or governing

Glad to be encumbered ‑
Gold, frankincense and myrrh ‑
By gifts we bring.

(Shepherd)
More than an angel
Redeemed, directed, lightened,
I now can sing.                                 

GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED IN FLESH (I)

 So He came forth, the Universe-maker,

Heaven-measurer, to be confined within

The breadth of a womb.

He who had stretched out the heavens

As a gauze curtain was prepared to be

Swaddled in linen.

The Earth-founder, Layer of foundations

Upon nothing, came where He could be

A Babe in a manger.

The Creation-commander, Orderer of 

Star, and planet, and comet became

An obedient Child.

Maker of the rivers, and the Former

Of the baptising saint, He willingly

Was baptised in Jordan.

Himself the Word, whose breath can consume,

Yet He answered Satan's assaults

With words of Scripture.

This restriction, to not please Himself

But do the will of His Father,

Gave Him great joy.

Some ruled as kings, or emperors, or priests

Over God's people; but in God's Messiah

Men saw the Carpenter.

He who could move on the wings of the wind

Or fly on the cherub, contented Himself

To walk on His feet.

Through these restrictions

There was this that was unlimited:

The communion of a Son with a Father.

(Callanish, 3 June 2022)

Farewell to Lewis

Despised

Among Pharisees,
Upholders of ancient tradition,
Despised.

Among Sadducees,
Dependers on the rational mind,
Despised.

Among Nazarens
Merely "the carpenter", their villager,
Despised.

Among Herodians,
Pomp and state of courtiers,
Despised.

Among Romans,
Sword and cross of state,
Despised.

Amongst us, you and me,
Apart from the divine breath,
Despised.

MARY

Why wife to a carpenter? Although
The royal blood pulsed, the rights
Of monarchy existed, you husband
Crafted in wood; each day's labour
Used energy, skill and mind. Nothing
Derived from you or him imbued
That Child of whom you were mother.
But it pleased God in His ways to choose
The ambience you both provided; righteousness
Of your unwilling‑to‑expose husband,
Subjection of your spirit, soul and body.
You observed perfection in childhood,
Pondered signs and growth, retained
Thoughts, memories and affection till
You could act as repository to His church.

"CUTTING IN A STRAIGHT LINE"

"Practice, yes ‑ but practice only
May be repetition of error; understanding
Is required; hand, elbow and shoulder
Must be and must remain in line.
If the hand wavers the surface cut
May be straight but the done work
Will reveal the wavering line. And the mind
Must exclude all else, concentrate
On its one objective, its single achievement."

CARPENTER

Roman, take your gibbet ‑
Most harsh task to my tools
Since I came from my father.

Joining the bars together
I nailed my hand.

Carving the earthward point,
I scarred my side.

Smoothing, my chisel dropped,
Piercing my feet.

Roman, ask no more crosses:
This will be enough.