"Christmas Day": Twelve Poems and A Story for Christmas

Mary was a young girl when she gave birth to a child in a strange place. She was not surrounded by women and midwives and probably went through her entire pregnancy with only Joseph by her side. How many days did she spend walking through fields, doing her chores in silence, and thinking about the child who was kicking and stretching inside her? For Jesus, like all other babies, demanded the full attention of his parents who did not have the traditional support systems.

Again, the steadying presence of Joseph brought her through childbirth. But once the child was born, Mary’s pride surfaces and she will contend with God, if necessary (as any mother would), for the life of her son.

Christmas Day

It had been a hard nine months—her frail

body struggling to keep God alive inside her—

the morning sickness and the craving

for wheat germ and honey—she’d lost

her appetite for meat, and would only eat

the ripest fruit. When she tried to sleep,

on some nights, he would sit on her bladder,

then shift suddenly, and she’d wait

in the darkness until he’d settle down

to the pressure of her hands on her belly.

And when the time came, he wanted

to come out feet first, but Joseph turned him

around and guided him into the light.

She held Joseph’s hands, then lifted the child

to her breast and suckled him with the milk

made from her blood. For until he was ready

to do God’s work, he was her son.

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