Babooshka (A Christmas Story) Poem by Brother Jonathan Gardner

It's mid-winter, cold, snowing and bleak.
Yet the three visitors, oddly, travel by night, and not by day.
When questioned, it's a special child they seek.
When quiet, all they seem to do is pray.

They are on a journey, a sort of quest.
To see a Royal Babe, they say. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
But during the day I work, they rest.
Is there really such a Babe who would be King?

There's lots for me to bake, and clean.
There's lots of work to carry.
Rested now, the visitors, the star, have seen.
But for me, I think I'll tarry.

They leave, and on their journey go.
The weather worsens, but later I can join their quest.
Their tracks are now hidden and covered by the snow.
Where have they gone? I've failed the test.

With gifts in a bag I journey on from place to place,
Visiting homes where children sing.
Leaving gifts by their bed just in case,
That child was the Baby King.

My journey to see the Baby King goes on and on.
Relentlessly journeying here and there.
When invited by the visitors three, I should have gone,
But then I didn't care.

It's too late for me, no one seems to know,
Where the visitors went or where the Baby King is now.
But I believe that you will, on that journey, go.
When invited, don't be deterred by the snow,
Nor anything else.


[Brother Jonathan Gardner]
Copyright © ®2008, Brother Jonathan Gardner. All rights reserved.

Notes:
The poem is based on an old (east) European story of Babooshka (grandmotherly, old woman figure) who misses the opportunity to accompany the three wise men on their journey to visit the Babe of Bethlehem. It's written as if the poem is spoken by Babooshka.

Not only does the story tell children why they have gifts at Christmas (Sorry Santa, it seems Babooshka rivals you in some parts of the world) , but the poem also reminds us all to respond when we hear 'the call of God' and not t tarry/delay.