The Song of Anna

This poem imagines a prophecy spoken by the prophetess Anna

(Luke 2:36-38)

Upon seeing the Christ child presented at the temple.

Because of my joy I cannot keep silent;

I must shout the Word of the Lord within His courts.

Because of my joy I cannot sleep;

I must pray and sing psalms all the night.

My joy is for the Word of the Lord within me;

I must declare it to all people.

Indeed the Word of the Lord must be proclaimed;

It will not permit itself to be hidden.

Were I to be silent the very stones of the temple would cry out

And the trees would take up my song.

And this is the Word of the Lord: that His Christ has come,

Even the Promised One, the salvation of Israel.

As He spoke by the mouth of His servant Micah,

That He should bring me out to the light, and I should see His righteousness.

As he spoke by the mouth of His servant Isaiah,

That I should not fear, for He has redeemed me.

As He spoke by the mouth of His servant David,

That He should make His enemies a footstool for His feet.

As he spoke by the mouths of His prophets since the foundation of the world,

That He should redeem His people from all their sins.

And this child presented with two turtledoves, according to the law,

Is destined for the fulfillment of all righteousness.

To be the perfect, unblemished lamb

Sacrificed for the sins of the world.

To end sacrifice for all time

By the perfect atonement of His blood.

To remove the sting of death

And to break the power of the law.

To free us from sin’s bondage

And to grant us everlasting life.