The Holiness of Their Son

Sometimes, as a father
a step-father, caring
for children of another, of others
I think about May, about Joseph
the holiness of their son
her son, the son he helped to raise
those many years not mentioned
the many years of his life
before the descending dove

What must their lives have been;
the message of the angels
words spoken in dreams
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh
exile, wandering in Egypt
but little more known
as he grew, of thirty years
growing, living in his hometown
a simple life, undocumented
before the holiness of their son
once more revealed


May 24, 2009 and July 19, 2009
title May 23, 2009