A Christmas Faggot/Four Epiphanies
FOUR EPIPHANIES.[1]
I.
The Pilgrim-Kings their King have found,
The Wise Men kneel at Wisdom’s shrine,
Their royal gifts His Crib surround,
He gives them bread and wine.
One Star has pointed to the Sun,
That men may see and understand
The Witness borne by all to One,
Who holds in His Right Hand,
Like lamps that round an altar burn,
All lights that shine, all words that be
Crowned are the men whose hearts discern
Their King’s Epiphany.
II.
The Child obedient sets His face
To seek His Father’s House of Prayer,
With other children takes His place,
And is a learner there.
Two worlds there are; the child to each
Belongs, God’s prophet, born to bless;
But not by action, nor by speech,
Simply by winsomeness
For, like the Child of Bethlehem,
Babes bring their blessing from afar,
Enriching all who wait on them
By being what they are.
III.
A Voice from heaven spake aloud,
Heard clearly by the Bridegroom’s friend
When, shadowed by the glory-cloud,
He saw the Dove descend.
One Voice has heralded the Word,
That listening men may truly know
What mean all voices they have heard
Above, around, below—
Soft whisperings and laughters loud,
The song of birds, the insects' hum,
Storm-music of the thunder-cloud—
And be no longer dumb.
IV.
That jubilance of bridal mirth,
First felt at Cana, has not ceased;
Christ’s Presence still regales the earth,
Still glorifies the feast.
The Ruler of the feast of life
Still with a sacramental sign
Confirms the love of man and wife,
And makes the water wine.
And His the glory still revealed
When lovers plight and keep their vows;
Himself the Bridegroom Who has sealed
The Church to be His Spouse.