Carolina Singerman: A New Poem


THE DAY JOSEPH HELD THE BABY

I HAD GONE TO CHURCH
TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
WHEN I WAS MET AT THE DOOR
BY THE DIRECTOR
CAN YOU BE JOSEPH
JOSEPH IS SICK
WHAT ARE MY LINES
AND WHAT DO I DO
YOU HAVE NO LINES
JUST STAND AROUND
LOOKING HOLY
IT’S A STRETCH I SAID
BUT I’LL GIVE IT A SHOT
NOW I’VE BEEN A SHEPHERD
WRAPPED IN SHEETS
TENDING COTTON COVERED LAMBS
I’VE BEEN A MAGI
IN A BATHROBE
I’VE BEEN AN ANGEL WITH WINGS
MONITORING CHERUBS
SO THEY WON'T FIGHT
BUT JOSEPH
I’VE NEVER HAD THE HONOR
SO ON THE STAGE WE WENT
MY EIGHT YEAR OLD BRIDE
AND HER EIGHTY FIVE
YEAR OLD HUSBAND
WHAT A LOVELY PAIR
SHE WAS HOLDING THE BABY DOLL
SOMETIMES SHE'D PUT IT IN THE CRIB
THEN SHE SAID TO ME
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOLD THE BABY
I WAS SET BACK
FOR AN INSTANT
IN ALL MY YEARS
I’VE NEVER SEEN JOSEPH
HOLD THE BABY
IT WAS ONLY A DOLL
BUT WHEN I HELD IT
I FELT TRANSFORMED
INTO A BETTER PERSON
SO THAT WHEN SHE ASKED FOR IT BACK
I DID
BUT WITH RELUCTANCE
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THE DOLL SMILED AT ME
BUT IT DIDN’T HAPPEN
BUT THERE WAS A WARM SPOT
IN MY HEART
I WON'T SOON FORGET
FRANK A VOLLMER




Comments

Barbara Anne said…
May we all be better people because of that baby.

I loved this poem so very much as I clearly remember my DH and my own father holding our first born who arrived 6 weeks early on Christmas Eve, 1979. Unto us, a son was born!

Thank you, Nancy!

Hugs!
Janet O. said…
This sweet poem sent a shiver up my spine. Thanks for letting us enjoy it.
You brought tears to my eyes with that one, Nancy, thank you.
LizA. said…
Wonderful. Thnx for sharing. May you have a blessed Christmas.
Cheryll said…
Hi Nancy. Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for my gorgeous bag sent in the SSCS. I just LoVe it!!! And all the other items are perfect for me too! All the very best for New Year and throughout 2014. You nailed being a wonderful swap partner! :)
Cheryll said…
Forgot to say that I will get the beautiful Blanket of Love up on the blog over the next few days too. THANK YOU so very much for that too!
suz said…
that was so beautiful - I've always had a special place in my heart for St. Joseph - my dad was named Joseph.