advent journal: posada

posada

they called it, and translated
“inn,” in Spanish, then, in robes
and scarves and hoods they
circled the sanctuary, stopping
at each door, singing for their
shelter, and being turned away
until they got to the door
at the altar; they sang again
and one little bearded boy
bent around the door and
said, “Yes, you can stay here.”

Yes is the harder answer for
anyone who knocks, you know
because they might stay, they might
makes themselves at home and
you have to keep saying it because
we are all innkeepers even as we are
Mary and Joseph, seeking shelter
from one another; hoping one will
be willing to open the door –
even to a back room or a barn --
that we might give birth to Love

Peace,
Milton

P. S. Thanks to our children for leading us in worship today.