Читать книгу Apocrypha - David Southward - Страница 8

When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

(Luke 2:43, NRSV)

Three days we searched the city—called his name

through market stalls, down alleys, into wells.

I felt the hot fatigue of fear and blame

in Mary’s tears. But how could I foretell

what he would do—this staid, abstracted boy

who memorized the prophets and withdrew

into himself? A childhood filled with joy

was brushed away like sawdust as he grew.

We found him in the Temple: all aglow

with rabbis’ praise. They laughed that one so young

should ask of our concern, “Did you not know

I must be in my Father’s house?” That stung

like nettles’ fire. Anyone could see

the Father he referred to wasn’t me.