Thursday, December 21, 2017

The Gift by William Carlos Williams



As the wise men of old brought gifts
            guided by a star
                      to the humble birthplace

of the god of love,
             the devils
                        as an old print shows
retreated in confusion.

           What could a baby know
                     of gold ornaments
or frankincense and myrrh,
           of priestly robes
                      and devout genuflections?

But the imagination
          knows all stories
                      before they are told
and knows the truth of this one
          past all defection

The rich gifts
          so unsuitable for a child
                      though devoutly proffered,
stood for all that love can bring.

          The men were old
                  how could they know
of a mother's needs
           or a child's
           appetite?

But as they kneeled
           the child was fed.
                      They saw it
and
           gave praise!
   
                     A miracle
had taken place,
           hard gold to love,
a mother's milk!
           before
                      their wondering eyes

The ass brayed
          the cattle lowed.
                     It was their nature.

All men by their nature give praise.
           It is all
                     they can do.

The very devils
           by their flight give praise.
                      What is death,
beside this?

           Nothing.  The wise men
                      came with gifts
and bowed down
           to worship
           this perfection.


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