The Holy Family

Joseph and Mary

My saviour makes me weep with gratitude:

I am not worthy, yet he touches me

with watchful love and faithful certainty.

In his strong arms I dare to feel rescued

despite the storms that sweep across the lake

and threaten shipwreck; dare to feel secure

despite my wariness of love so pure,

a love that gives, receives, but does not take.

His hands are hard but gentle, and those eyes!

Sometimes they have a distant look, or stern,

as if annoyed with life, but then he'll turn

to me and smile and teach the sun to rise.

I breathe acacia as he strokes my hair,

my taciturn, beloved carpenter.

So cut the length and pray you're accurate.

Too long? A wasted labour - cut again,

Or shave the surplus wood off with the plane.

Too short? By Abraham! Incinerate

The wastrel! Firewood. The best acacia

Isn't cheap. It's small wonder I'm incensed!

A carpenter, you say? I'm unconvinced.

Well you might grin! You know I only tease.

So yes, that was the story of my day.

The temple, almost finished, and the youth

Not destined for my trade. And tell the truth,

I wouldn't have it any other way.

The home we share is happy. We've been blessed.

The main thing is you know I've tried my best.

Comments: 31

Darin Waugh Aug 10, 2012, 10:58am UTC

Nice!

Mike Ellwood Sep 30, 2012, 7:11am UTC

Thanks.

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Angela A. Aug 10, 2012, 11:18am UTC

I loved the last lines, very fitting

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Mike Ellwood Sep 30, 2012, 7:12am UTC

Thank you, Angela.

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Rayda Renshaw Aug 10, 2012, 3:58pm UTC

Nicely written.

Mike Ellwood Sep 30, 2012, 7:12am UTC

Thank you.

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stephen berwaldt Aug 10, 2012, 10:05pm UTC

A love that seems too good to be true, but in the end it isn't... there's more than enough for all of us...

A lovely tribute to the One that deserves our praise...

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Mike Ellwood Sep 30, 2012, 7:12am UTC

Thank you, Stephen.

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Ann Marcaida Aug 12, 2012, 3:25pm UTC

Hmmm. I don't see God or Jesus here-- only a brave and loving man who married a woman whose pregnancy had doubtful origins. These are two of the great unsung heroes of the Bible.

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Mike Ellwood Aug 13, 2012, 5:07am UTC

Indeed. Joseph was Mary's saviour in a very real sense, for the future for an unattached woman of the time carrying a child of undisclosed origin would have been very bleak.
Whatever one might believe about Jesus' parentage and supernatural powers, Joseph would have been the influential and powerful father figure in the boy's life.
In the Catholic Church, of course, the ever-virgin Mary is celebrated by numerous feast days and devotions including the rosary.

Ann Marcaida Aug 13, 2012, 3:22pm UTC

Lots of feasts, yes, but I can't think of a single instance in the Bible when Mary is active and not passive. I doubt the real woman behaved in that way.

Mike Ellwood Aug 13, 2012, 4:55pm UTC

I totally agree - she can't have done. A Jewish mother! The Evangelists were men, the Apostles were men, the church fathers were men, the favoured theologians were men etc etc...patriarchy through the ages. I suppose the Mary in my poem sounds passive, in that I wanted to imagine Joseph through the eyes of Mary, but there is only half a poem here, so far. I will complete this eventually with a sonnet-monologue by Joseph imagining how he might have seen Mary. He would have recognised and admired her strength. In fact, despite her characterisation of him as the strong silent type, I would like to suggest the notion that he needs her at least as much as she needs him.

Granny Janny Aug 14, 2012, 12:50am UTC

I can imagine a society where men ruled ostensibly but women were, as they are now, more powerful than recognized in society. I believe that women have always had a high hand in what has happened in history.
The poem is beautiful, Mike.
I completely agree with you, Ann.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Oct 4, 2012, 12:22am UTC

When I read this, I only understood it to be about Mary & Joseph's son. Now I see how it was something other, but it's funny how one's expectations colors one's views.

I sent this over to facebook.

Barbary Chaapel Oct 4, 2012, 10:14am UTC

Mike, this poem is the joy of my day. Beautiful interpretation, from which each reader will find different meaning.

I love reading the comments above. I do so enjoy the New Testament.

Off subject, a P.S. to Jan about women more powerful: What do you suppose Michelle is saying today? :)

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Alice G. Aug 25, 2012, 3:40am UTC

They both submitted their lives and plans to God's higher plan. I can speculate that the love and respect grew exponentially as they allowed themselves to become vessels emptied of themselves in order that God might do his work through them. I can't imagine that Joseph once he was told the origin of the Babe in Mary's womb wouldn't have had respect for Mary that God chose her to bear the Savior and that in spite of the risk of becoming an outcast Mary chose to submit to the Holy Spirit. Imagine the love and respect that Mary must have felt toward Joseph that he chose to protect Mary even before he knew she had not betrayed him; and even afterward Joseph accepted full responsibility for Mary's child and loved and raised Him as his own. That is a perfect example of doing the work of love. Joseph has never received the admiration due him but he was chosen by God as well and he willingly laid down his own agenda to do God's will. A truly fitting example for us. I loved the poem.

Mike Ellwood Aug 25, 2012, 3:38pm UTC

Thank you. There is much to ponder upon.

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Mike Ellwood Sep 26, 2012, 11:19am UTC

I've added the second sonnet in Joseph's voice.

Sheila Deeth Sep 28, 2012, 5:40pm UTC

They are both lovely and they go together so well.

Mike Ellwood Sep 30, 2012, 7:14am UTC

Thank you, Sheila.
We've just had the wettest summer for a hundred years and it's still raining.

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Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Oct 4, 2012, 12:24am UTC

With gratitude, this pair of sonnets appears at Mindful Poetry.

Mike Ellwood Oct 4, 2012, 12:48pm UTC

I'm grateful for your comment, as always, Susan.

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Barbary Chaapel Oct 4, 2012, 10:19am UTC

I always go back in memory to those full color Sunday School pamphlets to illustrate a poem such as this in my mind. Rich colors, rich words.

Mike Ellwood Oct 4, 2012, 12:59pm UTC

Thank you, Barbary. Such images would make a deep impression on young minds. For many years long ago I had an image of Mary as a blonde lady who always wore a blue gown. For some reason, Joseph always wore brown. We know so little about them that I thought a little imaginative development might be interesting.

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