Harvey S. Mozolak
it is little known
perhaps not at allexcept here revealed
that while the magi
brought gifts of three
large nuggets of gold
nodules from a frankincense tree
and myrrh’s resin made into aromatic salve
all three also brought flasks of water
that never emptied
all their journey long
through deserts and mountains
they never stopped at streams
or wells nor dipped in rivers
but always when they lifted
the leather bags to their lips
sweet moisture filled their mouths
dripped down and wet their beards
and for their beasts the same
at first they marveled
then it became expected
thus to drink and thus be filled
until they arrived at Jerusalem
and there they found their vessels empty
and their tongues always parched
no matter what they drank
a Roman ale again a Jewish wine
some pomegranate juice of Palestine
thirst and longing became a search
a panting path
until they entered under the last cascading
light of their traveling star
the baby when they entered
Joseph’s humble house was sitting in a bath
a dirty bath laughing
the light from his eyes bathed them
as their tears streamed down
to water the upturned lips of tired travelers
of all things God toasting them
with his Son now a blood-relative
he the full flagon of divine promise
to be carried home
by the different route of God
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