After Matthew 1:18-25
A wife to be,
then.
A child to be,
then.
A man whose marriage,
then,
was not to be.
He did not beat
his breasts
he did not tear
his clothes
he did not shout
his victimhood
he moved quietly
because of
regard
because of
feeling
for her
his self was
crushed
but he was a
righteous man
a fair man, a
just man
until the dream
the second dream
and he knew
what he thought
a curse
had become a
gift
the second gift
a gift to care
for
a gift to grow
a gift to
protect
a gift to name
Painting: The Dream of St. Joseph, oil on
canvas (1642-43) by Philippe de Champaigne; National Gallery, London.
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