A San Francisco Magnificat
Mid-December
in a room
on the ninth floor
of the Marriott,
I sit reading
the first chapters
of Luke’s Gospel
in a Gideon Bible.
Like Mary
a traveler
far from home
though I’m not
“great with child.”
I’m full of questions, too —
some of the same ones
“Mary pondered in her heart.”
How I wish that Mary
could have stayed at this inn!
And birthed her baby
on the bed
with all the clean white pillows
and room service at the ready —
plus the concierge
would surely know
a midwife to call.
And Joseph –
he must have been worn out
from travel
and famished, too,
after all, he’d been living
with his own questions –
perhaps he’d just collapse
in that comfortable chair
by the window
and instantly nod off.
I could have
tried to help Mary,
offered ice chips, blankets,
wiped her forehead
with a wet cloth —
at least given her a hand to grip.
Jerked awake once more,
Joseph would hover
awkwardly about.
I don’t know how many pains
or how many hours
Jesus took to be born
but at least they’d have been
warm and clean hours —
no scratchy straw
or dirt or flies
or smelly beasts!
And when finally,
bloody and crying,
the baby’s born,
we’d all embrace
then wash and swaddle him
with thick white towels
and say, Jesus!
Welcome to the world,
little one!
Then probably
they’d all drop off to sleep,
and I might tiptoe round
and clean up,
keep watch.
Bible in my hands,
I sit and look out the window
at the holiday city
and pray for Mary,
my sister far from home
remembering how she said,
“My soul doth magnify the Lord!”
My soul doth magnify the Lord —
God with us.
Just a wonderful new way to think about how it would have been in modern times.. thank you Sally!
Irene,
Thank you so much – and I should probably write another version in a bus terminal, or lost in some cold public place in a big city, where the migrants have been bused and pretty much dumped — I pray for them all — Sally
Wonderful. Thank you
(from us in London, UK)
David and Carol
This is stunning! I love “Mary, my sister far from home…”
Reminds me of a conversation I had with my husband last evening while we listened to Placido and Pavrotti sing French and English versions of “O Holy Night.” I so prefer the French version, because in it, Jesus is not some high-and-mighty being but the brother who unites with the enslaved human and helps to break the chains of desperation and hopelessness.
Merry Christmas my friend!
Ann,
Thank you for your reaction. I’ve long felt a sisterhood with Mary, and the line “Mary pondered all these things in her heart” seems so true to me — I’ve also loved the story where Mary and her cousin Elizabeth share their experience.
I’ll look up those verses in the French version — I think they don’t always get sung here. And now that I think of it, I haven’t heard “O Holy Night” this Christmas – which is strange. Time to correct that!
And send YOU a Merry Christmas, Ann—- Sally
Beautiful poem, Sally! A perfect start to my Christmas Day!
Thank you so much, Jane — love to you, friend! Sally
Thank you, Sally. This is a lovely reflection on Christmas.
Mark, thank you — lovely to hear from you! A bit late, Merry Christmas to you, and may you have a wonderful year ahead, too — Sally
Love how you view the world!
I never get tired of reading this poem, Sally! God with us!
So “earthy” and “heavenly” at the same time. Absolutely beautiful, Sally. You have blessed us with your talents once again. Thank you!
Beautiful Storey! Thanks Sally! And Merry Christmas! Tina and Ross