Monday, January 9, 2017

Guided by a star (William Carlos Williams)

 As the wise men of old brought gifts 
    guided by a star 
       to the humble birthplace 
of the God of love, 
   the devils 
      as an old print shows 
retreated in confusion. 
   What could a baby know 
       of gold ornaments 
or frankincense and myrrh, 
   of priestly robs 
                             and devout genuflections? 
But the imagination 
   knows all stories 
      before they are told 
and knows the truth of this one 
   past all defection. 
The rich gifts 
   so unsuitable for a child 
      though devoutly proffered, 
stood for all that love can bring. 
   The men were old 
      how could they know 
of a mother’s needs 
   or a child’s 
      appetite? 
But as they kneeled 
    the child was fed. 
                                They saw it 
and 
   gave praise! 
      A miracle 
had taken place, 
   hard gold to love, 
a mother’s milk! 
   before 
      their wondering eyes. 
The ass brayed 
   the cattle lowed. 
      It was their nature. 
All men by their nature give praise. 
                          It is all 
                             they can do. 
The very devils 
   by their flight give praise. 
      What is death, 
beside this? 
   Nothing.  The wise men 
      came with gifts 
and bowed down 
   to worship 
      this perfection. 
--William Carlos Williams, The Gift
from The Collected Poems of
William Carlos Williams,
Volume II, 1939-1962

Image source:  Gentile da Fabriano (1370-1427), Adorazione dei Magi
Poem source

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