Illumination

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8

There were the stars, so far away and lovely,
     I traced the Big Dipper, then the little one. 

There were the shadows of the rusted husks of corn,
     the empty winter fields shushing past in the night.

There was the cold glass of the car window, smooth
     against my cheek, my small face pressed against it,
          looking, always looking.

There was a tiny brick house, quilted in lights, gold 
      glowed above the door, red and green winked on the roof.

Even the satellite dish glittered, a royal blue flickering 
     saucer, catching all of those signals that spilled from space.

There were Mary, little Jesus, and Joseph, beside the ditch, all
     lit from within, Mary’s painted-on eyes fixed on her baby’s face,
          and it was all beautiful, so beautiful.