Description
Six perspectives on the Christmas story in poetry, with or without music.
Extract:
Joseph's version
So far to come, with your youth complete;
so lately, part of a bevy
of girls at play in a Nazareth street:
now a subject for Romans' levy.
So uncomplainingly reconciled
to trudging rough hill-slopes, olive-tree-aisled;
yourself, so little more than a child
to bear a burden so heavy.
* * *
You had that inner light, even then;
that close-grained self-possession
in which to shape the desires of men
and carve a lover's obsession.
But I was first to engage your eye,
and pledge you a place where a king might lie,
without a thought I should ask you why
you wore that radiant expression.
Oh, Mary! any espoused man's boast,
so graced, so softly exquisite:
"being found with child of the Holy Ghost"
that's not what you wanted, is it?
And, what with sneering from high-born Jews,
and change of the wedding date to excuse,
it wasn't the best of moments to choose
to mention the angel's visit.