Poetry & the King
These verses are based on Biblical events, responses to God, the church.
I often find myself writing about God, whether I intend to or not. Inspirations from the created world or everyday life draw my thoughts inevitably to the Creator. That is fitting; Jesus is always intimately connected with his beloved creation and our muddled lives.
But the verses in this section are more deliberately about Jesus, the Bible and living in the light of good news about God's reign.
You might think that church is a boring topic. Taste and see.
The Hope of Glory
There's feed in this manger
for the whole world.
Mary's exhilarated,
her pain forgotten in the joy
of her baby,
of knowing Him,
Immanuel.
Shepherds peek
at half a face
between the winding strips:
it's enough,
it's Him,
the One the angels sang
and they adore.
'Didn't you see them?
Was it just for us
the heavens split
and glory leapt through?'
Joe speaks, his northern tongue thick with awe,
'Glory slipped through here too:
a blaze of joy and blood and tears.
Where will it end?
Who could have imagined?'
God in man,
Immanuel.
Joy for the world!
Tears too, and turning
from soft idols,
wills wrenched
and countless surrenders of self
to the Spirit's song.
God in man, man in God,
Immanuel.
There's feed in this manger
for the whole world
if they want it.
About these words
The phrase 'the hope of glory' comes from Paul's letter to the church in Colossae:
"...the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations...the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:26a, 27b)
'Immanuel' means God with us.