Imagine the look
The look on the old man's face
As the shepherd
Said
It's a girl
And the wise men
Handing out perfume
Said
We knew it would be so

the world has been held back
to see the shadows cast
where we might find something
unexpected and yet
useful a dropped gas cap
the thin plank from a fence
a couple of red rocks
to accent the flowers
planted by a lost friend

if freedom could be earned
then i might see the one
who brought me here
as someone i have loved
almost well enough
to recognize
in evenings when the stars and moon
are less apparent than the rain

white skin of winter
on my not quite old man legs
tells me i never
understand my brother's pain