The Day After

THE DAY AFTER

IT WAS THE DAY AFTER
THE SHEPHERDS HAD GONE
TRAILING LAUGHTER AND SONG
AND THE SMELL OF SHEEP
DOVES RETURNED TO NESTLE IN THE RAFTERS
IT GREW QUIET
IT GREW LONELY
IT GREW ORDINARY
THE BABY WAS ASLEEP
MARY JOSEPH NODDING
THE LET DOWN AFTER A TREMENDOUS DAY
TIRED MOTHER
TIRED HUSBAND
SLEEPING CHILD
HE DID NOT CONSIDER IT BENEATH HIM
TO BE BORN SO HUMBLE
RATHER THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE
HAVING BEEN FED
CHANGED AND BATHED
SLUMBERED PEACEFULLY
CONTENT TO BE HUMAN

FRANK A VOLLMER