Poem: “Magi” by Daniel Berrigan, S.J.

 They set out in bright approving summer: 

flags, gold, imagination attending 

down charted roads, the star like a sun of night, 

and at earth’s end, the unique King awaiting.

 

Autumn too was lovely and novel: weather temperate 

And the star mellowing slowly as a moon.

Then winter on them; the light snuffed out; 

Hearsay, frontiers, men inimical to dreamers – 

and what direction in iron snow? – a hind’s track 

diminished in ivory, a white birch stricken to ground 

and the sky tolling its grey dispassionate bell 

upon age, upon infinite heart’s weariness.

 

So the great came, great only in need 

to the roof of the thatch, the child at knee awaiting.