Epiphany

When the dawn-blood of our day bled On its flooded sunset death bed, Then the stark burst of a star's birth Lit the cursèd dark on straying earth. Now a sky-light at the twilight 5 Guided aging sages all night From the Far East till the star ceased Near a fabled child mid stabled beasts. In a straw bed was a starred boy, And the light he shed instilled joy, 10 For our sin's gloom, in his sun-gleam, Is illumined by a wond'rous beam Healing blind eyes, making minds wise, Ever bringing things their true guise. In his soft glow, from aloft flow 15 Long remembered ardors embers know To the dim hearth of the dark heart To be kindled by divine art . . . May our star-lit sparkles flare up awed By your love light, Christ, our Infant God!20

by Stephen Wentworth Arndt, Ph.D.

[ Annunciation | Incarnation | Shepherds | Epiphany | Flight | Presentation ]

Epiphany   Notes:

Cf. Mt 2, 1–12.

The intended meter is as follows:

It is especially important to observe this meter in line 13.
The meter of the last two lines, however, changes and runs thus:

1. Dawn blood of our day bled: a symbol of Adam and Eve's original righteousness lost in original sin.

2. Its flooded sunset death bed: a symbol of the proliferation of sin after the Fall.

8. Fabled child: the birth of the Messiah had been foretold in such texts as Is 7, 14 and Mi 5, 1 4. Matthew quotes the first verse of the latter text in the present account.

9. Starred boy: although the star led the Magi to the Christ-child, Jesus is himself the morning star (cf. Rv 2, 28; 22, 16) who lights our way.

14. Ever bringing things their true guise: the light of Christ allows things to appear as they truly are.



[ Carry Each Other's Burdens | Rejoice in Hope | Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice | Owe No Debt To Anyone | Accept Each Other | If One Member Suffers | Earthen Vessels | Forgive As The Lord Has Forgiven You | Be An Example To Believers | Keep Yourself Pure ]

[ Supper | Gethsemane | Betrayal | Denial | Ironies | Wounds | Surrender | Tomb | Doubt | Ascension | Christ ]

This poem is © Copyright 2002 by Stephen Wentworth Arndt, Ph.D.