The Star Still Leads

January 18, 2013 by margaretsmn

Artwork by John Gibson

I attend the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, so Sunday, Jan. 6th was our feast day. For the occassion, Bishop Jake Owensby visited and preached at the service. He talked about how the wise men were not searching for a certain geographical location, but for a person. His whole sermon can be found on his blog, Pelican Anglican.

I was inspired by Bishop Jake’s words when I picked up this card from my collection. I tried to capture the idea of our continual search in this poem.

The Star Still Leads
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Wise men traveled a great distance
with a will
strong enough to carry them
over hills and dunes,
through nights of wind,
storms, and cold.
All in search of a person.

Life is a destination
recorded in scrapbooks
dated photographs,
no east, south,
west, or north,
but names, people we love,
people who sustain us in hope.

We are revealed to God,
our calloused hands curled
in prayer,
we reach up,
fervently asking
for relationship, for health, for understanding.
Asking for a star.

all rights reserved, Margaret Simon

Violet is hosting the round-up today. Check it out!

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday | Tagged ekphrasis, Epiphany, John Gibson | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on January 18, 2013 at 3:45 pm | Reply Bridget Magee

Lovely poem, Margaret. Thank you for sharing… Happy Friday! =)
on January 18, 2013 at 7:08 pm | Reply Tara

Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem, Margaret!
on January 18, 2013 at 9:52 pm | Reply Fats Suela

Beautiful poem, Margaret. I especially loved the line about light and darkness. Truly uplifting. Thank you for sharing!! =)
on January 18, 2013 at 11:57 pm | Reply Violet N.

I love this collection you are writing. In this poem, I like how you make the wise men’s search your own–our own. That last line is a winner!
- on January 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm | Reply margaretsmn
  
  Thanks for hosting today, Violet, and for stopping by. Your encouragement means a lot.
on January 19, 2013 at 1:23 am | Reply Comment Challenge 2013: A Running Update |

[…] The Star Still Leads by Margaret Simon – comment by Fats […]
on January 19, 2013 at 1:56 am | Reply LInda Baie (@LBaie)

I continue to love this project, Margaret. This time, the metaphor of us reaching (or looking) for a star touches me. I applaud the idea that in some way, we all are doing so. Your father’s artwork is so lovely!
- on January 19, 2013 at 1:45 pm | Reply margaretsmn
  
  Thanks for your comment. I am feeling good about this project. I feel such a strong connection to the images.
on January 19, 2013 at 2:05 am | Reply mattforrest

The last line says it all. Beautiful.
on January 19, 2013 at 3:13 pm | Reply haitiruth

I like this! Thanks for sharing it.
on January 19, 2013 at 11:06 pm | Reply Carmela Martino

A lovely poem, Margaret. I agree that the last line is powerful. I also especially like:
>>no east, south,
west, or north,
but names, people we love,<<
Thanks for your comments on my poem, too.
on January 23, 2013 at 12:37 am | Reply Clare L. Martin

One of the reasons I have taken my time with your poems is because they are so finely crafted it has been pure pleasure to read them. The minor thing I saw was probably a typo that you caught. Also, I think you know best how you would change them. Trust you! You are attuned to the voice and are a wonderful craftswoman. I know you are busy, but it would be nice to talk about them over coffee. 🙂