“... and they went back by another way.”“Wise men” — I think that’s what you call us now,
and we were wise, according to our lights:
for we spent many long and studious nights
in watching stars, and plotting where and how
and when their influence would be most strong.
Time was I’d chart the future for a prince,
based on his natal day. and then convince
him it was right when it proved wrong.
A charlatan? Perhaps. But once, I cast
a horoscope that caused my heart to stir;
and bearing gold and frankincense and myrrh
my friends and I went traveling, til at last
we saw a sight that made us feel ashamed
at all we’d done before, and warmed our hearts.
And we discarded all our former arts.
Two bright stars by a stable door were framed;
all other constellations seen beside that one
were dimmed: it was The Mother and Her Infant Son.— Tobias Stanislas Haller BSG, 1984
The serious and sometimes satirical reflections of a priest, poet, and pilgrim —
who knowing he has not obtained the goal, presses on in a Godward direction.
January 6, 2007
Confession of a Wise Man
4 comments:
Comments are welcome, but: I ask you to identify yourself, and to • avoid mere contradiction or assertion; give reasons for disagreement • stay with the topic of the post.
Your words are yours but I reserve the right to cite them or refer to them in other contexts.
I will not post comments that are irrelevant or offensive.
Note that Blogger limits comments to 4,096 characters.
Tobias, this is lovely. You must have been a mere youngster when you wrote it.
ReplyDeleteI love these lines:
we saw a sight that made us feel ashamed
at all we?d done before, and warmed our hearts.
Yes... that couplet... is something like envisioning a divine possibility -- and being made humble.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brother.
Have you read "Lamb" - the gospel according to Biff - Jesus childhood pal? Tells about what happened when Jesus decided to look up the Magi later.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
ReplyDelete