O LORD, sheer joy with you,
Israel, in exile Homeward bound
From among a people of strange tongue
Gone forth in sheer joy
Shouting Hallelujah!
Out of Egypt have I gone forth with you,
True and Faithful by name
In sheer Joy!
How heavy the moment
Is with eternity, Lord Jesus,
Yet each flows after the other
Like water escaping
The hand that captures
The eyes that see
The thoughts that would knot
Them into a jeweled chain
To be adorned not as memory
But as presence
Cradled birth, my life in your hands:
Tenderly kept as shepherd with lamb
Hurrying at angelic proclamations of peace
Heavens ringing hallelujahs
Your delight brooding over the waters
Breaking over this new life, moments Spirit-born
When come the magi bearing each —
On a camel fresh out of the box
Of ornaments and sweet scents
Frankincense and myrrh unpacked —
Mystery like knots unraveling sheer
Joy, O Lord! You give each new
Moment flowing rapidly bringing you
Nearer, sheer joy as I await the
Long-awaited coming in sheer joy!
Dreams from a Pilgrimage 
Beautiful, beautiful poem and amazing linocut!
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Thank you so much Sheila. I was struck by that linocut too!
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Nice metrical sound and sense in these two lines:
“Cradled birth, my life in your hands:
Tenderly kept as shepherd with lamb”
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Thank you so much, Frank. I’m glad you liked it!
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I am so glad that in my sleeplessness, I have read your poem. What a calm to the soul, this joy of ours is. You are such a blessing to me, Dora!!!
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Praying you are catching up on your sleep right now. God bless and keep you,. You’re so loved, sister!
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What a festive joy! This summarizes Matthew 2
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Oh yes! That chapter is a treasure to trove of poetry to mine, with depths of joy we will plumb for eternity!
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Truth! Grateful you bring the Word to bear here
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