Joe Excited/Exasperated....?

[The setting: The cave of Jesus’ birth. Jesus, who has just been born, reposes, wrapped in swaddling cloth, in the warm, vibrant bosom of His Mother Mary, also asleep on the bosom of Joseph her husband, all leaning against the stone wall in the deepest recess of the cave.  A few sheep, oxen, coats and camels flank the Holy Family on all sides. An occasional braying, or rustling of the animals interrupt the silence of the night. The three wise men are en route to the scene, about twenty miles away. Tony sits on the back of a sheep (both legs hanging from the left side) standing directly in front of Joseph. A lone candle flickers next to Mary, providing dim but sufficient lighting for conversation.]

Tony (jubilant): DAAAANG SON! LOOK AT THE BABY JESUS SON!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Joseph (chagrinned by Tony’s cacophonous tone): SHHHHHHHH! ……(speaking in hushed tones) the Baby and His Mother are sleeping! Shhhhhhhh!

Tony (slightly embarrassed and blushing, also speaking in a hushed tone): my bad Joe! ..Can I call you Joe??? You know, short for Joseph?? As in big daddy Joseph, aka Cadillac big pimpin??? …uh…nevermind. I was just so excited to see sweet baby jebus over there! Oh sweet little baby jebus, you are sooooo kah-yooooot!

Joseph (looking at Jesus romantically): yes, He is a wonder to behold. My boy! Im so proud as a father, Tony, you just don’t know….(Joseph exhales breaths of joy and ecstasy)

Tony: yeah…so why you guys not in the four seasons hotel son? Why my man, the King of Kings aint lounging up in the Trump Tower, son son? Room service (Tony raises his voice) FO’ LIFE!!!!

Joseph (looking at Mary to assure that her sleep hasn’t been interrupted, then looking askance at Tony): SHHHHHHHH!!! …….what?!!!

Tony (embarrassed again): …..nevermind, that’s twenty first century lingo you wouldn’t know….you could never know, Will Ferrell tee hee! I WILL NOT EAT CAT POOP! ....er...ehhhh....Anyways, I just figured the royal family would be in royal lodging that’s all my dude.

Joseph (looking pensively into space): …you know Tony…..I was wondering the same thing…..

* Dedicated to St. Joseph, spiritual father. Pray for me

------------------------/Anxious Aspirations, Angelic; The Thoughts Of Joseph As He Held and Looked At Mary Sleeping The Night Of Jesus’ Birth

Silhouettes of clumped humans hugging cast against a cave wall

at a goat’s breath dance,

a delicate drama downplaying the direness of a dour birth

deplorable and dank caves filled with dung from camels and sheep

heaven’s travesty, the world’s delusion, perhaps

the presentiments of a father pressed

to guard what he cannot see, defend what he cannot comprehend

love a woman, he barely knows coddle a child unrelated

yet on him the world dependent

and the angels call on me to strong-arm salvation

from the jaws of Roman rule safeguard our yearned for savior

protecting a baby born to an ignoble, insignificant Jew

from spears of snarling sieges, soldiers

yet all I can muster is the sigh of a feeble man head in my arms

trying to rock myself to sleep ameliorate the worry and doubt

in my mind I hear the echoes of the prophets killed, mocked

competing with the reverberations of hope our ancestors

shouted from Egypt waves crashing on foes behind them

the indelible angst of Pharaoh on opposite shores

the indelible angst of  Pharaoh on opposite shores shared

haunted by snakes in the manger slithering whispers

my wife is a dissolute whore

slithering whispers apparitions of angels are my deranged

hallucinations compensating for an otherwise pointless life

Mary innocent, the Child naïve

everything, whether good or evil hinges on me the choice

to hope, holdfast to faith and believe

or get up and walk away

unnoticed whilst they sleep

(and they locked in a dream)

--------------------/

Luke 2:4-8

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.