Herod’s brain was
riddled with worms.
When the Magi
were presented
he wept
and trembled.
They
sotto voce
sang charms
to calm him –
each in the glimmer
of his own language.
Composure
regained
he sat
eyes closed
listening.
Sly Herod
wished
the Magi would -
“return and tell me
of this new king’s
birthplace.”
When they didn’t
he rasped his command
to kill all the newborn.
His Chamberlain nodded
and it was done
but not before
gold
frankincense
and
myrrh
were left in Bethlehem
to finance the family’s flight
to Egypt.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
