Simeon, full of the Spirit, nearly fainted

when he saw the child.

He snatched him from Mary,

which alarmed her until she heard his praise.

Then she and Joseph were astounded.

Just as Simeon gave him back,

wise old Anna came in

and began shouting about the messiah

in the dramatic way of prophets.

More amazement ensued.

The whole thing was like a scene in a Hollywood epic:

swelling score, meaningful glances, a beautiful child.

Yet when they finished doing what the Law required

and his parents took him home, left behind for the priests

were two bobble-headed birds, slate gray,

cooing in the quiet after the commotion,

just a few steps away from the knife

that’s always sharpening somewhere for the poor.