Dying with Simeon

Luke tells us the story of Simeon, an aging man who has spent his whole life waiting to see someone who will Rescue his people. He is in fact not only waiting for a Savior, but waiting to die. They are tied together for him.

“Any day now”
the voice has said
every day now
for as many years
as he has lines on his face.
Any day now,
more comfort
less anger
more peace
more space
more peace
please
mercy please.

“Not yet,” the day says,
neighborhood says
news says
his heart says
the Voice says.

“Not yet,”
Moses heard from a cloud
Elijah heard in the breeze
Eve heard through the trees
Hagar ran into by the springs.
Not yet,
The Voice would
shout whisper sing.
Just wait
and see.

He looks
til his eyes fade,
his strength wanes.

How long,
how long
must we wait?

“Not yet”
the Voice says.
“Breathe
another day.”

He wakes
rises
fails
fades.

“Not yet,”
the Voice says.
“Bless what you find
while you wait.”

Until
one day,
the Voice
of Not Yet
says
“Now.
Meet at our place.”

The steps are the same.
The sky is the same.
His weary legs
short breaths
bent back
same same same.
But after this long long wait
the voice of
Not Yet-Now
has a face.