The Gift

by William Carlos Williams

As the wise men of old brought gifts
guided by a star
to the humble birthplace

of the god of love,
the devils
as an old print shows
retreated in confusion.

What could a baby know
of gold ornaments
or frankincense and myrrh,
of priestly robes
and devout genuflections?

But the imagination
knows all stories
before they are told
and knows the truth of this one
past all defection

The rich gifts
so unsuitable for a child
though devoutly proffered,
stood for all that love can bring.

The men were old
how could they know
of a mother's needs
or a child's
appetite?

But as they kneeled
the child was fed.

They saw it
and
gave praise!

A miracle
had taken place,
hard gold to love,
a mother's milk!
before
their wondering eyes.

The ass brayed
the cattle lowed.
It was their nature.

All men by their nature give praise.
It is all
they can do.

The very devils
by their flight give praise.
What is death,
beside this?

Nothing. The wise men
came with gifts
and bowed down
to worship
this perfection.

Comment: I love the simplicity of this poem and its simple observation. I've been recently watching a lot of animal videos on National Geographic's website with K. He's really gotten into animals, especially marine animals. I'm learning all sorts of things that I never knew. The facts that always impress the most are the ones about the bond and relationship between mother and child. For instance, how walruses are tactile creatures and hug and cuddle in the same way we do. That their calves need that tactile affection. How a baby dolphin from day one knows to mimic its mother's every move to learn how to survive. That bond has to be so strong in order for the species to survive. Its so banal and but also extraordinary. Nursing, as WCW observes in this poem, is extraordinary in this same way. It is a gift. It's run-of-the-mill and biological, but it's also a small miracle. It reminds us that we are also part of nature and the age-old struggle to survive.