It was the Epiphany and Madelon, poor shepherd girl, wept as she had no gift to bring to Christ’s crib; but where her tears fell to the ground a Christmas rose bloomed, the gift of angels. Madelon was able to pick the beautiful white flowers and take them to the Holy Child in his manger. Our poet Fiona Clark brings us this little-known legend today, Day 796 of the Daily Poems,
Beauty of hellebore
Hellebore, fallen star,
sheltering from harsh winds,
glowing among glossy leaves
lighting the darkness.
Christmas rose, carried
by a shepherd girl to the crib,
that forgotten, humble visitor
unrecorded in any Gospel,
who travelled alone
in the steps of three kings,
their camels heavy with rich gifts,
her thin arms empty, eyes welling –
where tears spilled, flowers bloomed,
the gift of angels.
Fiona Clark