The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-06
Selected Poem
THE THREE WISE MEN
(Rev. J. J. Kripas)

Majestic, royal, wise, = Three adventurers kings upon beast The envy of all eyes? From Saba Epha Madian far Who follow Bethlehem's Bright Star? 1saias spoke and prophesied Twas centuries ago, And 8 gleaming Star was to guide Their camels over sand and snow Unto the lowy town of Bethlehem We see them, wise men all In preparation of Their journey to follow the call Of Bethlehem's Child in relentless love- They bored long, anxious years Over tones of ancient lore And anxious awaited mid fears The call to Bethlehem fore. And finally came the welcome sure As OCT their kingdoms vast brilliant Star ne'er seen before
 Their fears now all collapsed They packed their dromedaries three With gifts of royal tone And hastened forth in felicity Where the Fair Star fully shone An! How the joy leaped in their breast As they followed that Fair Star on, With never thought of care or rest They stayed their beasts upon Only to stop by an oasis here, Only to tent for the starry night While expectant stars the atmosphere Showered with sacred delight. What sweet exchange of words was theirs AS they hastened joyfully forth Only to be attacked by robbers unawares :. Else what would their tourney be worth II Following the Eastern Star aloft?! Thus finally after many days or thrilling travelling on The Certain Star with more brilliant rays Drew nearer to the God-Man Son! When all at once in Herods realm The Star had vanished full They lost their bearings and their helm And now they had to honest pull Their reins towards human help King Herod will know" They all agreed
 And unto him they rode. But disappointment met their speed And the camels load. But patience rcaps its own reward And now from Scribes they found That their Heavenly Master King and Lord In Bethlehem must be found. They sallied forth again beneath the sky Towards sweetest Bethlehem And what was their joy when there on high The Star appeared again! And following its pointing fingers five They arrived in Bethlehem And there was Jesus born; alive To royalty now welcome them! They leave their camels full outside And gift-laden on their knees They enter in the mountain-side Sacredly by degrees, And finally reach the Infants crib Their gifts to offer and display But more than that their hearts they give And kngly wisdom away. Gold, frankncense and myrrh They offer Him the Child While Mary and Joseph as before Accepted them and smiled Ah What gifts to give an Eternal King A Child but two weeks old The sweetest incense in a ring And pure Egyptian goldl And thus in homage royal, wise . They greet their Eternal King While an Infants childish heavenly eyes Sparkle in the swing Of the cloud of incense sweet The Wise leave and on their beast Carry His message East .. An, World, 50 should we This modern Epiphanyi The shepherds reached Him through their hear The Wise Men through their mind Thus all our faculties must play their part To greet the King of humankind Thus ends story adventurous, sweet Of the Three Wise Men from the East Ahi If humankind today would repeat Their story cen in the least, I'm sure as day that that brilliant Star Would appear in our heavens and from afar Lead us sweetly on our way Closer to Bethlehem day by dayl