Poember December
Tabby’s Christmas Gift
A poem of compassion given and a gift received
Away in a Manger in Bethlehem, the newborn Prince of Peace lay shivering. His mother, Mary, tried to comfort him but had only her scarf for covering.
Mary, exhausted from just giving birth, and Joseph, weary from their long travel, fell asleep amidst the stable’s bleak dearth. A sweet tabby watched the scene unravel.
She jumped from her perch on a high hayloft and slipped over to the babe, now stirring. Worrying because she heard a wee cough, Tabby lay close to him, gently purring.
Baby Jesus gave a sweet little sigh and snuggled next to Tabby, now peaceful. Her purring was her gift — a lullaby. Mary awoke to this scene so blissful.
She stroked Tabby’s forehead so lovingly, grateful for the kitty’s comforting purr. When she lifted her hand, surprisingly, she saw that a miracle had occurred.
In the exact spot, Mary touched Tabby, the letter M appeared between her ears. M for Mary, whose love for her baby, left this sign for tabbies throughout the years.
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My poem about Tabby and the infant Jesus is inspired by a well-known tale. The legend goes that on the night when baby Jesus was born and shivering in the manger, a tabby cat jumped into the manger to warm Him with its fur. The baby’s restlessness was calmed by the cat’s purring, and soon he drifted off to sleep. To express her gratitude for the gift of love and warmth, Mary touched the little tabby cat and marked its forehead with her initial “M”. Since then, all tabby cats bear Mary’s initial on their forehead. (For a sweet retelling of the legend you can read “The Christmas Legend of the Tabby and Baby Jesus”)
I am especially fond of this legend because my sweet cat, Mona, bears the M on her forehead. Mona is a “social butterfly” who loves people. She is also very motherly and gentle with human babies. I would like to believe she is a direct descendant of Tabby in my story.
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I want to acknowledge Trisha Faye and Carolyn Hastings for nourishing my “creative courage” to write this poem. Trisha has always been supportive of my stories and poems. She recently published my poem, “The Story of the Waning Crescent Moon,” in her Good Vibes Club publication and wrote the sweetest comment about it being her favorite of my poems. In the back of my mind, I am toying with the idea of writing a book of story poems for children. Trisha’s enthusiasm for that poem is nudging me closer to pursuing that notion. Thank you, Trisha! 💚
In a comment on my last submission to Paper Poetry, “We Wait in Joyful Hope,” Carolyn bestowed a huge compliment by telling me, “you clearly have a talent for rhyme.” Oh my goodness! Those 7 words floated my head to the moon! I discovered Carolyn’s poetry early in my Medium journey and have been in awe ever since at how she captures snapshots of life in precise, eloquent rhyme and free verse. Yes, I am “fan-girling,” but I’m certain I’m not alone. Thank you for your encouragement, Carolyn. ❤️
I would like to invite Hira Ali, Benighted, J Oliver Dempsey, A Shayens Abran, and Gail McNulty 🕊️ 🌱, to join in the Poember December poetry prompt. Here are the details:
