The Holy Of Holies by G.K. Chesterton

"Elder father, though thine eyes
Shine with holy mysteries,
Canst thou tell what in the heart
Of a cowslip blossom lies?

"Smaller than all lives that be,
Secret as the deepest sea,
Stands a little house of seeds,
Like an elfin’s granary.

"Speller of the stones and weeds,
Skilled in Nature’s crafts and creeds,
Tell me what is in the heart
Of the smallest of the seeds."

’‘God Almighty, and with Him
Cherubim and Seraphim,
Filling all eternity—
Adonai Elohim."

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.