82 - The First Sign

The First Sign
By Jay G. Williams

I

It was a rude, up-country
Town of the Galilee
Where we came together,
Hands and feet and faces
Cleansed and purified
According to tradition,
For piety's sake,
By the waters
Of mikveh.

The day meant joy;
Yet those dread times
Of Pharisaic sanction
And the Roman cross
Gave the disciples
And those rough country-folk alike
Slim hope,
No fortitude
Of which to sing.

Jay G. Williams is Professor of Religion and Director of Asian Studies, Hamilton College. He is the author of several books, the most recent being Along the Silk Route: A Journey of the Spirit (1991). Several of his articles and poems have appeared in THEOLOGY TODAY.

83 - The First Sign

II

And then the wine was poured-
A wine untasted
And unknown before;
Not the usual vin ordinaire
(That had come earlier)
Nor even such a fancy brew
As might have graced
The tables of the rich
And mighty.

This was transforming,
Joy-filled wine
Of unimaginably
Ancient vintage,
Intoxicating
Our sad hearts
With the Spirit
Of celebration
And of mirth.

And drawing us together
In the circle
Of the bold,
Like those supernal angels
Round the innocent, primal pair,
To consecrate
The Union
At the wedding
Of the King.

84 - The First Sign

III

And still we whirl-
Sun-wise, in a circle-
With hands clapped
Over shoulders
And our feet
Stamping out in unison
The Spirit's beat
And our faces
Radiant with the gladness.

While in the center
Of the ring,
The comely Shulammite
And her long-awaited shepherd lover,
Wed together finally
By the Blessing of the Ages
Dance the dance of ecstasy,
Eternally
As one.