ON THE MAGI THAT AMAZED

to have come so far for one Star no matter how resplendent
how convinced they must have been of their own visions
and interpretations
to endure the cold, the deserts, never faltering as though
they had become themselves the Star as though the Star
dwelt in them and an inner music of royal purple infinitely,
relentlessly Vast
truly they were Kings and could not fail to
apprehend the Everlasting
so that God gave them increasing favor even to be warned in a dream
to depart another way from a crazed and covetous Herod.
and from the court astronomers...
all this was later, on the non return.
I loved singing about the three kings,
their gifts proffered in reverence
how the radiance of the child illuminated them on the detour back.
I thought they were my Magi too I loved them so much
I would have fed their camels I would have looked into their faces
and seen the Star in their faces almost blinding them
for the rest of their days
they would have been
that amazed.

mary angela douglas 12 december 2020