Epiphany – a poem by Joe Carosella

Epiphany					

It's here.  The final night - the twelfth - has come.
In olden days a feast, a revelry
to mark the end of holy Christmas tide.
Who even notes it now, despite the carol?
Tomorrow is epiphany, with gifts, 
perhaps, for children where tradtition holds.
The children of my house are grown and gone
away, and where I live only a few
will know which day the Magi are in town.
Therefore, no presents anymore for us.
How sad, you say, for gifts are good - moreso
when gold, incense and myrrh change hands.
Epiphany, from Greek, means to reveal.
Those camel-riding, good old kings came
in to find the love of God revealed.
What is in store for us who stay at home,
without a star, or caravan, or angel
voices in the night?  We have our lights, 
our baking, decorations, wine and songs,
and maybe church.  But are we ready to 
receive a revelation on a special
day - or even any day?  Suppose
the Big Reveal is not for us from God.
Suppose epiphany reveals to God
how well we see - or if we don't - this vision
that is meant for us to see.  When we
haul out the box to stow away the lights
and ornaments and such, will we give thought
to what the season has revealed of us?

Joe Carosella believes that Every Day Is a Beautiful Day. He hikes avidly, and loves nature, reading, ice cream, travel, and language(s). He writes, and spends time with family. His first book is Making Friends with God: A Year of Dialogues (Amazon KDP, 2024). Rabbit Tracks: The Poetry of Nature (Shanti Arts, 2025) is his second book. Joe’s poems have appeared in The Soliloquist, Amethyst Review, Adirondac, and Adirondack Almanack. He lives in Scotia, NY with his wife, Diury Alvarado.