into their warm clothing
and Maryann kissed us goodbye.
The baby had been sleeping most of the time
when they were in our house.
When she put his blankets around him,
she handed him to me.
She put the white stole back on her black hair
and I looked at the baby.
He opened his eyes and I knew
he was too young to smile,
but I told you—he did.
I would never forget the look
on that infant face.
Maybe it was the special night or,
as I said,
maybe the hall light cast a reflection,
but in the blanket around the baby’s head,
brightness glowed.
They started out the door.
“Wait!” I yelled.
I put the carved infant Jesus into David’s hand.
“I will never forget you.” I said.
“Nor we you,” said the father,
“or your kindness to strangers.”
As they drove out of sight
Morris and I came back into the warm room.
The Bible was on the coffee table
where Morris put it after he had read to me earlier.
The draft from the door turned the fine Bible pages.
We sat down and glanced at the holy book,
“Anyone who takes care of a little
child
like this is caring for me!”
I leaned back into my husband’s arms
and looked at my Christmas tree.
IT WAS A PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE!