Just when you thought the excitement was over
I know you just fell asleep
after his midnight feed
and that you’ve had an exhausting day.
I know we’ve dreamed of living
– just the three of us –
in rooms behind the cedar-fragrant shop
and that I promised to build you
a kitchen table and new beds
when we got back to Nazareth.
I know that you can’t wait
to show him
to your mom and dad
or put him in the clothes
you stitched for him
that he is even now outgrowing.
I know that you were looking forward
to things getting back to normal.
But heaven keeps interrupting
for I’ve had that dream again.
There’s no time to delay –
we’re on our way to Egypt!
Violet Nesdoly 
Nice write, Violet! Great title, especially given the content. I like the perspective and tone of voice you’ve adopted; both seem natural and unforced, with the recognizable details good anchors. Evocative image.
LikeLike
Thanks, Maureen! I’m glad you think the tone of voice is right. It’s interesting, trying to write from a well-known character’s perspective.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Poems From Psalms And Nature.
LikeLike
Ellen, I’m so honored that you think this is worth a re-blog. Thank you!
LikeLike
Great poem! The family of God next door. Sometimes He moves us into controversy instead of away from it, however, into battle after a time in the Egyptian wilderness to be prepared. The readiness of Joseph to obey the dream is inspiring and your poem captures the human drama so well.
LikeLike
That’s a great way to look at it: “The family of God next door.” Joseph’s readiness to obey has always challenged me. It seems God was very intentional when He picked both of Jesus’ earthly parents.
LikeLike
Lovely, Violet! A gorgeous picture and a wonderful poem! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Adele. Isn’t it a lovely picture? A friend sent a different version to me (slightly darker with starker highlights). That one was more dramatic. This one is softer and so still. I think it catches the couple’s weariness and the awe of the setting (including the sphinx) over what was happening. (Paintings like this make me wish I were a painter!)
LikeLike
Really enjoyed this! Love the line…but heaven keeps interrupting!…and Violet, you are a painter…instead of a brush and palette, you have a pen and ink!
LikeLike
Janet, thank you so much! And you picked up the underlying thought I had when I wrote this–that heaven often interrupts us at the most inconvenient times!
LikeLike
I don’t know why, but this took me by surprise tonight…Christmas come and gone, a new year well on its way…and it moved me tremendously. Thank you so much, violet.
LikeLike
Thank you, Laura! (I just found your comment in my ‘other’ folder – yikes!) There is more to the ‘Christmas’ story than just only the Christmas events, isn’t there?
LikeLike