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The Wisemen and the Shepherds
after Eileen Duggan
The camels’ footfalls over and around
Baked dunes, through pebbled streams, on forest floors;
The sages straddling humps without a sound
Who’ve long exhausted scholarly word stores;
Like galleons cresting glittering hill on hill,
The sunburnt sailors’ wills bent to their port—
The magi’s minds as waving sails now fill,
Now slacken at the winter cold’s retort.
Not like the shepherds on the hill that night
Who brooded not, nor carried heavy loads,
But leaving flocks obeyed the joyous sight
And rushed head-long towards Bethlehem’s abodes.
The former pondered long, the latter brief,
Yet both received reward for their belief.
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Jeremiah Johnson got his MA in Rhetoric in 2003 and then ran off to China to teach for a decade. His work has appeared in the Sequoyah and Ekphrastic Reviews. He is also currently a teacher of English Composition and World Literature at the University of North Georgia. He lives in Cumming, GA.
Varied and good description of the magisterial trek into exhaustion. Yet the shepherds who didn’t have to think receive the same reward. I seem to recall a parable (about those hired at the eleventh hour) that conveys a similar meaning. But here, Jeremiah, you simply ask us to think about the decision to believe in diverse circumstances, and the action each believer must take to progress toward the beatific vision that seems near and yet far. Good Christmas meditation–thank you, and a rewarding Christmas season to you and yours.
Thanks for your thoughts Margaret. The “magisterial trek into exhaustion” – great way of articulating it!
This is indeed lovely, Jeremiah. I especially like your description of the sages having “exhausted scholarly word stores” — there’s nothing more to say at this profound event — and your comparison of their minds to filling and slackening sails.
Glad you liked it, Cynthia. The metaphor of the sails was borrowed from Eileen Duggan (whom I reference in the title) – as was the theme of comparing/contrasting the journeys of the wisemen and shepherds. Duggan wrote her poem, “Contrast” in free verse and also somewhat denigrated the wisemen’s laborious faith journey in light of the shepherds’ ability to come to faith more quickly. I’ve wanted for years to rework the poem on traditional lines, and to present the two journeys to faith more equitably.