Haiku for Baby Jesus

Painting by a monk (Ottoman Empire, 16th Century)
Photo by w:User:Konstantinos.

3
Looking for you at 

borders and bedsides, waiting 

for your benison.

4
On the fourth day of

Christmas, Mary saw your

gifts multiply.

Mary held her breath 

to feel cows and straw and all

around breathe with you.

5

Perceiving shared breath

Even buds on dried grasses

know you are present.

O, love, the sweetest

perfumes are nearest your skin

on this, the fifth day.

I want to breathe in

your spirit for strength.  I want

to stay here with you.

6
Mary and I lean

in closer to the love

flowering around.

When she says your name,

Jesus, your smile lights the room

and everyone smiles.

You raise tiny hands,

your arms embrace all at once

in sweet welcome.

I am aware that

the homeless, shepherds, and kings
are here together.

7
And Joseph, a good man

keeps refreshing the straw.  He
wants to build your bed.

His name means God gives.
Jesus means God delivers.
Mary wished for both.

But not this hard road!
Mary, did you know how hard
beginning would be?

Can you imagine
how hard ending may be? How
much blessing beyond?

Thank God for spring and
summer.  Thank God for autumn
and for winter, too.

8
This year ends. Tonight
we usher in a new year
with you as blessing.

9
A new age beckons
over warm sand and cold ground.
We follow the star.


10
I love how Mary
holds you, her child, like a tree
limb holds its new buds.

What parents know their
children's destiny?  Their love
and trust helps you thrive.

11
What will change the world?
When ordinary folks say
"Yes."  Thank you, Thank you.

Dear baby Jesus,
We only know we want you
and will follow you

into mystery, 
wonder and pain.  Loving you,
we learn how to love.

12
Call me disciple.
Teach me to hear in all tongues.
Make good use of me.

#

Epiphany

We traveled to this
starting place--birth, baptism,
and revelation.

Now God, three Kings, and
all the rest are united by coos
wonder, motherhood.

I'll be adding to this poem through epiphany for 

Gillena's Gifts of haiku for baby Jesus 

(visit FB)

My blog poems are rough drafts.

Please respect my copyright. 

© 2018/2019 Susan L. Chast