Poem January 29, 1977 Issue

A LAD HERE

John 6:9

Margaret Tsuda

This boy—
child or stripling—
never mentioned before or after
this one brief verse.
This boy
begins a miracle.

We may see him
shyly
showing his five barley loaves
his two small fishes
to Andrew, brother of Peter,
one of the first disciples
of the great Teacher.

What had this boy learned
out there on the wild hillside?
What glimpse of God
as loving Father, caring
for each child with
infinite spiritual supply,
gave the lad
courage to stand forth
from a multitude with
so small an offering?

We cannot know exactly
what he heard that day
but we can feel in a measure
the joy (what joy!)
which must have swelled his
heart
as he watched
Jesus
accept his gift
give thanks
and then—
multiply it
for five thousand!

Twelve baskets of fragments
remained to be gathered of
those
five loaves and two fishes.
Twelve baskets full
left over from
a young boy's
love!

Margaret Tsuda

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