Three by Madeleva VII

Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.

Stars

We are the stars that have watched the night skies with the prophets of old;
We are the magi from out of the East; we are bringers of gold.

Heaven has incense of praise from censers seraphic to bring;
Earth, the world-weary, bears bitter-sweet treasure of myrrh to the King.

Homage of incense and myrrh for a God and a Saviour are meet;
We are your stars, little King, and we scatter the gold of ourselves at Your feet.

A Word for Shepherds and Angels

I spoke to Gabriel and was not afraid;
But to these herdsmen, hardy keepers of sheep,
And their singing midnight skies, what reply shall be made?

I may say to them—it were a gracious thing to do—
"My Son when grown to a man, my Child asleep,
He will care for flocks; He will be a shepherd, too."

Then mayhap their hearts will be opened as mine, with pain;
They may understand how my first-born, my only One
Will be our unblemished Lamb—and slain, and slain!

Angels and shepherds and I have known, have heard
Tidings to shatter the earth and amaze the sun.
Angels and shepherds, tonight I bring you the Word.

Parables

Because we are all innkeepers, tonight
Let every door be open, every window bright,
That, when a young girl and her waiting Child shall come,
We be their home.

Because we are all shepherds on the hills,
Keeping whatever be our flocks, when the night fills
With songs to say a Child is born in Bethlehem,
We follow them.

Because we are as wise as wise men are,
We find in every star a wild, prophetic star.
Tonight we seek, way-worn, life-laden, one star's light
Out of our night.

(all from American Twelfth Night)

The Four Last Things: Collected Poems (1959) pp. 112, 113, 131.

See also Three by Madeleva VI: Poems by Sister M. Madeleva, C.S.C.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Sun. 01/02/05 12:36:34 PM
Categorized as Literary & Religious & Sunday Poetry Series.