Children of Nazareth (Poetry by Bob Racine)

The Scriptures tell us of Jesus’ birth but give us no account whatsoever of his childhood, except his visit to Jerusalem at the age of twelve in the company of his parents.  The time between the events we observe at Christmas – the manger, the shepherds, the Wise Men, Herod, etc. – and his baptism by John that preceded the start of his ministry has otherwise been called the Silent Years.  We can only speculate about what this Hebrew child did on a daily basis around the Nazareth streets and countryside.  I offer the following simple poem as a meditation on that time, but seen through the eyes of other young ones, unsuspecting kids with whom he played or worked.      

Oh, children of Nazareth!  You have not looked of late

into each other’s eyes, as you rough about, kicking up the dust of centuries.              
And why should you know?  Why should you know?

Cease not then your animal noise.  Go make your little stampedes

among lazy herds of village sheep, who know you too well to fear you.
Go have your fights, skin your knees, take your bruises,
keep your dithery pace with the blood that races in your veins.

Why should you know now of that blood’s power to speak

to nations and peoples yet unborn?

Crouched in a corner, you wait to catch the desert wind by the tail.

But it spurns your habitations and sends you back to your
lackluster streets to ply your meager trades, live out your meager days,
and sow your proud mortal seed, dream however you must.

Soon enough the last seed will be sown; age will slow you down –

foot companions to your beasts of burden.
Not until then will you ever look, look deep, deep into each other’s eyes.
Then at last you may realize:  You’re not all the same,

for time, in accord with its sacred offices, has sought you out,  

yet to vindicate you, in the well-wrought life of Another amongst you  
more free, more knowing and more restless than even you.

To read other entries in my blog, please consult its website:  enspiritus.blogspot.com.  To know about me, consult the autobiographical entry on the website for Dec. 5, 2016.