At Christmas time, I always think of the final section of H.D.’s “The Flowering of the Rod,” which describes so beautifully the wonder of God’s greatest gift:

But she spoke so he looked at her,
she was shy and simple and young;

She said, Sir, it is a most beautiful fragrance,
as of all flowering things together,

but Kaspar knew the seal of the jar was unbroken,
he did not know whether she knew

the fragrance came from the bundle of myrrh
she held in her arms.

Wonder, joy and rest to all this holiday season!

D