The way home

Ostensibly this is about leaving the creche on the front table for now. It's tempting to think that if the wise folk stay there, worshiping, nothing will change. Well, it doesn't work that way. Even when they take the same way home...even home is different.

The wise folk

Still gather at the manger.

Maybe they will never go home

By another way.

I contemplate leaving them

By the manger.

Still

Everyone must grow up.

Everyone must grow out.

Everyone must grow in.

Everyone must consider

Other ways home.

The walk home

By a different path

Means home

Won’t be the same

Either.

Heck

Even taking the same way home

Won’t be the same

Anyway.

Wise men

The daughter put the wise men in the family room.  They finally arrived at the mangers in the living room two days late.  I understand they were really late anyway.  We are just going with the story here.  I figure they will need more time to contemplate the mystery with us.

The wise men have arrived

At our three nativities.

They will stay for now.

Pre-Epiphany

I set up the whole Nativity scene in late Advent this year, including Baby Jesus and the wise men.  My daughter hid Jesus.  We only found him five days after Christmas Day, in the table drawer, where he has always been hidden.  The wise men (numbered four) in our nativity, didn't walk at all this year.  They stood in attendance, waiting for the birth.  They will leave, suddenly, on Tuesday,with the rest of the creche.  Everyone will return to their places.  Even us.

Christmas

Day eleven

The four wise folk

Wait in bunched attendance

On one side

Of the Nativity scene.

I know.

They traditionally don’t arrive

Until Monday.

We used to have them

Walk across the living room

Until January 6

Epiphany

That day we put everyone away

In a special box

Until next year.

The wise folk

Got a raw deal:

Dropped to their knees,

Handed over the gifts,

Rapidly left

By another way.

They walked

Stunned

All the way

Home.

Wise men, returned

Sure we know they returned home a different way to avoid Herod.  But what about when they got home, wherever exactly home was?  I*m willing to bet home wasn*t the same, either.

Home will never be

The same, returning into

a different door.