Monday, January 4, 2010

Epiphany

'Lord Babe, if Thou art He We sought for patiently, 
Where is Thy court? 
Hither may prophecy and star resort; 
Men heed not their report.' – 


'Bow down and worship, righteous man: 
This Infant of a span 
Is He man sought for since the world began!' – 

'Then, Lord, accept my gold, too base a thing 
For Thee, of all kings King.' – 

'Lord Babe, despite Thy youth 
I hold Thee of a truth 
Both Good and Great: 
But wherefore dost Thou keep so mean a state, 
Low-lying desolate?' – 

'Bow down and worship, righteous seer: 
The Lord our God is here 
Approachable, Who bids us all draw near.' – 

'Wherefore to Thee I offer frankincense
Thou Sole Omnipotence.' – 

'But I have only brought Myrrh; no wise afterthought Instructed me 
To gather pearls or gems, or choice to see 
Coral or ivory.' – 

'Not least thine offering proves thee wise: 
For myrrh means sacrifice
And He that lives, this Same is He that dies.' – 
'Then here is myrrh: alas, yea woe is me 
That myrrh befitteth Thee.' – 

Myrrh, frankincense, and gold
And lo from wintry fold 
Good-will doth bring A Lamb, the innocent likeness of this King Whom stars and seraphs sing: 
And lo the bird of love, a Dove
Flutters and coos above: 
And Dove and Lamb and Babe agree in love: – 

Come all mankind, come all creation hither,
Come, worship Christ together. --Christina Rosetti; Before 1886

3 comments:

Violet N. said...

Beautiful poem - and perfect for Epiphany!

C. Marie Byars said...

Thanks so much for noticing! Rosetti wrote a lot of poems around these festivals, some of which became hymns.

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