They travelled by night
they followed his star meaning
they had to wait for darkness to fall as a mantle
about their shoulders to know the way
to navigate mountainsides littered with bodies
of mountain goats sleeping mountain lions creeping
owls startled at this untimely interruption
of their prey-ful meditation;
they followed his star meaning maybe
that they stumbled on stepping stones
robes heavy with salt and clay
casting relics with their feet as they
followed his star waiting by day
for God’s preëternal presence
to show them the light
over the water 