The Star

GRACE NIXON STECHER

Since ever time began, the sons of Jacob
Had journeyed through the wastes of wrong desires,
Had struggled with the mental beasts of Baal,
Had languished through the poppied paths of pleasure,
Had fainted in the marshes of misgivings,
Their eyes so blinded by a veil of dream-mist
They could not see the star that moved above them,

Till one sweet virgin in the pale procession,
Whose heart-beats echoed to the surge of Spirit,
Whose thought had ever kept its sweet communion
With purpose high and pure of God's revealing,
Pierced through the dream-mist veil that blurred the vision
And saw the star that ever moved above them.
"My soul doth magnify the Lord," she chanted,
Pure, holy, true, O Lord, is my conception!
The Christly babe of this, my Soul alliance,
Shall ever image forth Thy name, O Father!
Shall gently shepherd all the sons of Jacob.

And true, he healed those fainting by the wayside
He led them by the star that moved above them.
He led them step by step above the earth-clouds,
Till crowned with thorns and mocked by some who knew not,
Till speared and crucified by some who feared not,
He breathed upon them blessings and forgiveness
And gave to them the proof of life eternal—
This was his crowning witness to the Father!