a moment

was there a moment
known only to God
when all the stars held their breath
when the galaxies paused in their dance
for a fraction of a second
and the Word
who had called it all into being
went with all his love
into the womb of a young girl
and the universe started to breathe again
and the ancient harmonies resumed their song
and the angels clapped their hands for joy
power

greater power than we can imagine
abandoned
as the Word knew the powerlessness
of the unborn child
still unformed
taking up almost no space
in the great ocean of amniotic fluid
unseeing
unhearing
unknowing
slowly growing
as any human embryo grows
arms
legs
a head
eyes
mouth
nose
slowly swimming into life
until the ocean in the womb
is no longer large enough
and it is time for birth

madeleine l'engle

BEHOLD HIM