radiating

on their way to Bethlehem
liturgically

the two
and nearly three

magi farther
off
according to prediction’s navigating

shepherds waiting
and the elf on the shelf

so many things
so many qualities
combine

anticipating majesty and bringing
along our silly
notions

and our gifts like cherries or a lamb
or
all of us
acknowledging
respecting
changing

by one event
this one event
the search for accommodation
which
might be the easy part
with
facing all the labor

then
all the labor

then the one
and three
and more
so many more
attending
until everyone on Earth
and ringing out from
heaven
should know

announce
transform in a new season like
a planet
going another way

c l couch


(examples of gifts recalling The Second Shepherds’ Play)

photograph by Pascal Debrunner at Unsplash