By Jack Urban
O, the ecstasy and the ache
and the kiddywink glee;
A long-awaited joy,
ripens into the thrill
Of waiting.
The Father’s heart
torn ’tween child and thine
Passes through the veil;
As the Rock, who learns to cry
Sups the bread of tears and cookie dough.
Beaming faces, trumpets call,
’mid squeals of delight,
illuminating gifts, and Giver,
While the appetites of intellects play—
Like youngsters on the morn.
Angels sing
Expectation, jubilation!
Earth and Heaven meet,
in a confluent convocation in the checkout;
The King approacheth—
Who with a double kiss promise;
Lavishes every one of His faithful with endless Joy!
Jack Urban earned his MA from Wheaton College in 2019. His works span a wide range of genres. He has six gardens, several families of squirrels, and a faithful wife who tolerates his spending hours each day with people he made up.
He described his creative process for The Ecstasy and The Ache:
“Advent itself is always BC! The whole purpose of advent is to be for a moment fully and consciously Before Christ,” writes Malcolm Guite. Before him, we wait, and he satisfies us with joy!
Out of the five poems that sprang from the invitation to write a piece for Rez this Advent, I chose verses that attempt to capture Christ’s past, present, and future incarnations. The Ecstasy and the Ache marries the biblical motifs of heavenly heralds, a humble baby, and a coming King of Glory with Christ’s practical presence in our ordinary life, at the grocery store, in the kitchen, or on the joy of Christmas morning.
Usually, I draft poetry by hand, and when the chicken-scratched revisions become too messy, I transfer the work to the computer. I love the originals and keep many notebooks.
Advent Exhibit
Enjoy Abode, a painting by Ellen Pointner for the week of joy.
Each week of Advent a new visual artist and poet is featured in our RezArts Gallery. These original pieces invite you into the anticipation of Christ’s coming through a representation of each week’s theme: hope, peace, love, and joy. This series will culminate in a fifth display celebrating Christmas. Visit the Advent Exhibit in RezCafe, on display until January 12.
