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
No comments:
Post a Comment