Christmas poetry

Hi everyone--I've been on vacation, but I did want to put up this post during the season.  I hope you all have a great Christmas and a wonderful holiday!

Joseph’s Troubled Night

Luke 2:7

I love her so much.

What is that to them, now?

Look at her, so absorbed in that baby.

How is it that this has happened to me?

I always thought that I would live life alone, and I was content with that.  I liked being alone.

My thoughts were my own;

My life was mine to rule.

I answered to no one.

Yes, it did get a little lonely from time to time,

But even that was nice, in a way.

I could revel in the solitude, the silence,

And the sense of pervasive stillness that filled my life.

And if I did ever feel the need for companionship,

There were always my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins...

Every one of them with a family of their own—

Loud, raucous, stridently breaking up the early morning stillness

With their bickering, their banter, their hilarity.

I would find myself heading for home after a very short time,

Content once more with my solitary state.

And then I saw her.

She had always been in the periphery of my vision,

So to speak,

A quiet little thing—

Quiet, but not shy.

She seemed to be all eyes,

So much so that the other men left her to her own devices.

There was something almost unnatural about her,

About the way that she just—

Looked,

As if she were keeping the events around her

In some sort of ledger inside herself.

To the average man, this was not a woman to be favored.

Too much looking and too little talking

Was disconcerting to them.

But me...

I loved her the more for her silence.

She did not prattle on about inconsequential affairs,

But when she did speak, her words spoke volumes.  I

Worked up my courage and asked for her hand.

Our courtship was not your normal one.

Yes, we did talk of our life together,

As much as was necessary.

But that was not our main focus.

No, we loved to speak of He who is to come, Messiah—

Of the prophecies in all their confusion.

It was our favorite game.

How would he appear?

Would he be triumphant king or suffering servant?

Or could these conflicting descriptions

Somehow all apply to the same person?

How could that be?

Today, we have our answer,

For this servant king is suckling on Mary’s breast.

Fully human, he cries when he is hungry, wet or cold.

His cries reach into my innermost being.

I never realized how much I could love someone who is not my own.

But he is not just fully human.

The angels, the shepherds,

The sky with its enormous star

All have revealed him to be Messiah.

Messiah—my son.

It is true,

And yet it doesn’t fit well on a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths.

How strange—living, he lies wrapped as one who is dead.

Yes, I know it’s necessary to keep him straight and strong,

But it still troubles my heart.

I don’t want to think of my son,

My beloved,

And death.

My son…

My child, what will our future be?

Should I announce you as my son?

But you are not my son.

Should I put myself in danger of being called a naïve fool or worse by proclaiming the truth—

You are Messiah, sent by God?

What will Mary do?

I only have to look at your mother to know that she is not concerned about any of this.

Not in the slightest.

What secrets is she keeping?

I feel that they are the first of many,

And I know that she will keep them until the end of time.

One more day

He wakes up, turns over and looks at me.
I pretend to still be sleeping,
Although the child within me is fully awake.

I feel the warmth of his gaze,
and I know that he is still tormented,
Oh Joseph.

I didn't start this,
You know that.
This is not the life I would have chosen.

Here we are,
On the road to Bethlehem,
Two travelers--nearly three.

One more day, my husband,
And we will be there.
I pray our child will wait.

Joseph, please know
I didn't ask for this.
But having been given the opportunity--

How could I decline it?

It is written, Joseph, remember?
"A virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
And shall call his name Emmanuel

God with us."

I want you to understand that I'm thankful.
I know that you are a just and good man,
And I realize that you could have put me away

Or worse.

But you chose to bear this burden with me,
And I respect and admire you for that.
But it's so hard.

Joseph, I barely know you.
You are my husband,
But you are not the father of my child.

Can you accept him as your Son?
Will you love him as a father should?
Will you teach him what a man must know?

And Joseph, can you accept me?
Will you see me as your wife,
Though not in the way you might have wished?

Oh well.
I must open my eyes and start the day.
I put on a smile and meet your eyes.

"Good morning Husband.
Yes, it's almost over.
One more day to Bethlehem."

Joseph (3)

Please--two questions--

Is this better, and is it too short?

Joseph’s Lament

He’s not my son.

I know that he came from God.

I know that he is the Chosen One.

I know that Mary, great with child,

Is still a virgin.

But he’s not my son.

We walk from town to town on our way to Bethlehem--

Two travelers among many.

Old man with his young bride.

They look at Mary and smile,

And they look at me and grin.

The old man wasted no time!

That’s what they’re all thinking—

And I force myself to return their looks

With a smile and nod myself

All the while thinking

But he’s not my son.

Yes, an angel came to me in a dream.

He told me that it was safe to take Mary to wife.

He reassured me that the Holy Spirit had conceived the child she carries.

And I did believe him.

This life that looms before me

Is not the life I had envisioned.

She sleeps beside me

And as she cuddles against me for warmth,

Her belly bumps against my back.

And he kicks.

Oh God, how can I raise him?

How can I love him?

When he is

not

my

son?

Joseph--take two!!

I'm writing this in the hopes that you can give input.  I have revised my monolog "Joseph".  I'd like you to read it, and I'm hoping that this time I get responses from actors and from people that are grammarians.  I have two specific questions:  are there any mistakes grammatically?  As an actor, do you think it reads well?  Also, many of my monologs are written as poetry--line by line.  Do you think that this monolog should follow that rule?  I'm torn about it.

Thanks for any input you can give.

Joseph 

          I love her so much.  What is that to them, now?  Look at her, so absorbed in that baby.  How is it that this has happened to me? 

        

I always thought that I would live life alone, and I was content with that.  I liked being alone.  My thoughts were my own; my life was mine to rule.  I answered to no one.  Yes, it did get a little lonely from time to time, but even that was nice, in a way.  I could revel in the solitude, the silence, and the sense of pervasive stillness that filled my life.  And if I did ever feel the need for companionship, there were always my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins...every one of them with a family of their own--loud, raucous, stridently breaking up the early morning stillness with their bickering, their banter, their hilarity.  I would find myself heading for home after a very short time, content once more with my solitary state.

        

And then I saw her.  She had always been in the periphery of my vision, so to speak, a quiet little thing--quiet, but not shy.  She seemed to be all eyes, to the point that the other children left her to her own devices.  There was something almost unnatural about her, about the way that she just--looked, as if she were keeping the events around her in some sort of ledger inside herself.  As she grew to be of marriageable age, this trait proved to make her somewhat less than desirable to the young suitors of Nazareth.  To the average man, this was not a woman to be favored.  Too much looking and too little talking were disconcerting to them.   But to me...I loved her the more for her silence.  She did not prattle on about inconsequential affairs, but when she did speak, her words spoke volumes.  I worked up my courage and asked for her hand.

Our courtship was not your normal one.  Yes, we did talk of our life together, as much as was necessary to understand her wants and needs for the future.  But that was not our main focus.  No, we discussed the Tanakh—the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.  We loved to speak of He who is to come, Messiah--of the prophecies in all their confusion.  It was our favorite game.  How would he appear?  Would he be triumphant king or suffering servant?  Or could these conflicting descriptions somehow all apply to the same person?  How could that be?

Today, we have our answer, for this servant king is suckling on Mary’s breast.  Fully human, he cries when he is hungry, wet or cold.  His cries reach into my innermost being.  I never realized how much I could love someone who is not my own. But he is not just fully human.  The angels, the shepherds—the sky with its enormous star all have revealed him to be Messiah.  Messiah—my son.  It is true, and yet it doesn’t fit well on a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths.  How strange—living, he lies wrapped as one who is dead.  Yes, I know it’s necessary to keep him straight and strong, but it still troubles my heart.  I don’t want to think of my son, my beloved, and death.  My son…

My child, what will our future be?  Should I announce you as my son?  But you are not my son.  Should I put myself in danger of being called a naïve fool or worse by proclaiming the truth—you are Messiah, sent by God? What will Mary do?  I only have to look at your mother to know that she is not concerned about any of this.  Not in the slightest.  What secrets is she keeping? I feel that they are the first of many, and I know that she will keep them until the end of time.

Help requested re Joseph

I'm asking for your help.  As I said earlier, I'm gathering together material for my first book of portraits--based on the life of Christ.  I came across this example--Joseph.  Could someone please read it for me and tell me how I should finish it?  Should I cut it in half and expand the end of one and the beginning of the other?  I want to include the idea of putting her away, but I'm not sure it belongs here.  Please comment here or on FB and let me know what you think.

Joseph: 

I love her so much.  What is that to them, now?  Look at her, so absorbed in that baby.  How is it that this has happened to me? 

            From the moment I first saw Mary, I knew that she was the only one for me.   I had always thought that I would live life alone, and I was content with that.  I liked being alone.  My thoughts were my own; my life was mine to rule.  I answered to no one.  Yes, it did get a little lonely from time to time, but even that was nice, in a way.  I could revel in the solitude, the silence, and the sense of pervasive stillness that filled my life.  And if I did ever feel the need for companionship, there were always my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins...every one of them with a family of their own--loud, raucous, stridently breaking up the early morning stillness with their bickering, their banter, their hilarity.  I would find myself heading for home after a very short time, content once more with my solitary state.

            And then I saw her.  She had always been in the periphery of my vision, so to speak, a quiet little thing--quiet, but not shy.  She seemed to be all eyes, to the point that the other children left her to her own devices.  There was something almost unnatural about her, about the way that she just looked, as if she were keeping the events around her in some sort of ledger inside herself.  As she grew to be of marriageable age, this trait proved to make her somewhat less than desirable to the young suitors of Nazareth.  To the average man, this was not a woman to be favored.  Too much looking and too little talking were disconcerting to them.   But to me...I loved her the more for her silence.  She did not prattle on about inconsequential affairs, but when she did speak, her words spoke volumes.

We loved to speak of He who is to come, Messiah--of the prophecies in all their confusion.  It was our favorite game.  How would he appear?  Would he be triumphant king or suffering servant?  Or could these conflicting descriptions somehow all apply to the same person?  How could that be?

And now—this servant king is suckling on Mary’s breast.  Fully human, he cries when he is hungry, wet or cold.  His cries reach into my innermost being.  I never realized how much I could love someone who is not my own.

What will be our future?  Should I announce him as my son?  But he is not my son.  Should I put myself in danger of being called a naïve fool or worse by telling the truth—he is God?  I only have to look at Mary to know that she is not concerned about this.  Not in the slightest.  What secrets is she keeping?  I know that she will keep them until the end of time.